ECONOMY

Japan's exports tumbled and the country logged a surprise trade deficit in August, data showed on Wednesday, reviving concerns about the economy just before the Bank of Japan wraps up a closely watched meeting. (Japan Today)

Pharmaceutical terms are often used when talking about monetary policy. In that sense, Japan has been a country on monetary steroids -- quantitative and qualitative easing and, more recently, a negative interest rate. (Nikkei)

Policymakers at the Bank of Japan have decided to adopt a target for long-term interest rates in an effort to meet their inflation goal as soon as possible. (NHK)

Japanese government data released Tuesday showed a stark contrast in the effects that new Shinkansen bullet train routes have had on land prices in areas along the lines. (Jiji Press)

Average commercial land prices in Japan were almost flat in July, an improvement from eight straight years of decline, thanks partly to robust demand for city hotel and shop construction to meet foreign tourist demand, the government said Tuesday. (Japan Times)

The Bank of Japan is at a crossroads, and the direction it takes this week will help determine the next phase of the era of ultra-loose monetary policies that has defined the post-GFC investment landscape and underpinned financial asset prices. (smh.com.au)

An aging population is not the only cause of headache for policymakers trying to keep the nation's medical costs down - now they have "superexpensive" drugs to deal with. (Japan Times)

Higher interest rates may not be so bad after all, especially if you're in Japan. (wsj.com)

Japan's medical expenses in fiscal 2015 rose 3.8 pct from the previous year to 41,462.7 billion yen, topping 40 trillion yen for the first time, the health ministry said in a preliminary report Tuesday. (Jiji Press)

More than half of 106 regional banks across Japan will suffer losses in their lending operations in the year ending March 2025, the country's financial regulator predicts, due to the double headwinds of shrinking demand and narrowing margins. (Nikkei)