Long-Term Interest Rates Keep Surging to 18-Year High, Approaching 2 Percent

TOKYO, Dec 08 (News On Japan) - Long-term interest rates continued their rapid ascent on December 8th, reaching their highest level in 18 years and six months in the latest sign of tightening financial conditions.

In the bond market, the yield on the benchmark 10-year Japanese government bond briefly climbed to 1.965 percent, marking its strongest level since June 2007 and bringing it close to the symbolic 2 percent threshold last seen in 2006.

Investors have sold off government bonds on growing speculation that the Bank of Japan may continue raising rates, while concerns over fiscal deterioration have intensified under the aggressive fiscal policies of the Takaichi administration.

Rising long-term rates are expected to push up fixed mortgage rates and increase borrowing costs for companies.

Bank of Japan Governor Ueda is scheduled to speak at an online event on December 9th, and markets are watching closely for any comments that could influence the interest rate outlook.

Source: TBS NEWS

Heavy Snow Continues Along Sea of Japan Coast

Heavy snow continued mainly along the Sea of Japan coast on January 22nd under a strong winter pressure pattern, with some low-lying areas also expected to see significant accumulation, prompting warnings over potential disruptions to transportation.

Abe Shooter Gets Life Sentence

Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, who was charged with murder and other crimes over the shooting death of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, was sentenced to life in prison on January 21st in a lay judge trial at the Nara District Court, in line with prosecutors’ request after proceedings that spanned 15 hearings since October 2025. Yamagami showed no change in expression as the life sentence was handed down.

Inbound Tourists to Japan Top 40 Million for First Time

Japan welcomed more than 40 million foreign visitors in 2025 for the first time, setting a new annual record, even as arrivals from China fell sharply in December.

Straw Serpent Bites Heads in Kyoto

A traditional New Year event known as “Jaduna” was held in Miyazu, Kyoto Prefecture, with local residents praying for a year of good health and protection from illness.

Japan Heads for Snap Election

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced on Monday that she will dissolve the House of Representatives on January 23rd, the opening day of the regular Diet session, and hold a snap general election with voting set for February 8th.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Business NEWS

Sony To Spin Off TV Business

Sony has announced it will spin off its television business as competition in the global TV market continues to intensify, saying it has reached a basic agreement with major Chinese electronics maker TCL to begin talks toward a strategic partnership.

Japan’s Long-Term Interest Rate Hits 2.35%, Highest Level in 27 Years

Japan’s long-term interest rates, which directly influence fixed mortgage borrowing costs and broader financing conditions across the economy, continued their rapid climb and reached the 2.35% range on January 20th, marking the highest level in roughly 27 years as investors grew increasingly uneasy about Japan’s fiscal outlook and stepped up bond selling amid political pledges for consumption tax cuts that some market participants believe could become permanent.

BizReach And The New Reality Of Job Switching In Japan

More people in Japan are looking to change jobs as work styles and values shift in the post-pandemic era, pushing individuals to seek better roles that match their skills, experience, and lifestyle, while companies facing digital transformation and new business pressures are also reshaping hiring by expanding mid-career recruitment.

Pay Calculator: Instantly Calculate Your Net Salary & Take-Home Pay (2026 Updated)

Knowing your actual salary is the most crucial thing ever. A pay calculator will help you get out of the calculation that may give you confusing figures, and enable you to see the exact amount of what you will be taking home after deductions.

Why Professional Removal Services Matter for Moves to Japan

Moving to a new country can be exciting, but it also comes with a host of logistical and emotional challenges.

Reimagining Scarcity: How Bitcoin, Gold, and Silver are Valued in 2026

In the year 2026, the concept of scarcity for assets like Bitcoin, gold, and silver has evolved beyond traditional boundaries of supply constraints.

New Subscription Services Spread in Sapporo

A wave of new subscription-style services is drawing attention in Sapporo, with everything from coffee and craft beer to cleaning now being offered for a flat monthly fee.

New Cold-Storage Technology Helps Farmers Avoid ‘Bumper Crop Poverty’

A logistics company based in Tosu, Saga Prefecture, a key transport hub in Kyushu, has developed a massive high-performance refrigerated warehouse in-house, using advanced technology to extend the freshness of vegetables and fruit and help farmers avoid the income squeeze known as “bumper crop poverty.”

< 2 3 4 5 >