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On January 28 th Richard Yetsenga of ANZ spoke with CNBC’s Squawk Box Asia, laying out why talk of yen intervention continues to ripple through markets, how investor confidence is being tested by Japan’s fiscal trajectory, and why monetary tightening now feels less a matter of “if” and more a matter of “when.” Topics Covered Persistent talk of yen intervention is shaping market psychology, even as policy fundamentals suggest sustained action remains unlikely. Japan’s currenc

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) announced on January 30th updated 2025 full-year and December 2025 monthly housing starts statistics. The number of housing starts nationwide in 2025 totaled 740,667 units, down 6.5%, marking the third consecutive annual decline. Total floor area of housing starts fell 6.6% to 56.89 million square meters, extending its decline to a fourth straight year. Breakdown by Ownership Type By category, all segments rec

Tokyo Kantei released the results of its analysis of condominium housing stock nationwide on January 29th. The survey counted every condominium unit that had been built and still exists as of December 31, 2025. This includes unsold units and shared spaces such as meeting rooms that are legally registered as part of a condominium. Buildings that had already been torn down were excluded. Wix AI image using the prompt "Japan condominiums" using a Fantasy filter. All rights rese

The Japanese yen is moving again, and its swings are starting to affect everyday headlines as well as global markets. As government warnings, rising prices, and shifting economic policy collide, the ripple effects are being felt across stocks, bonds, and consumer spending. The below Bloomberg Daybreak Asia podcast from January 26th discusses these topics with Kei Okamura of Neuberger Berman. Topics Covered Yen Strengthening and Intervention Speculation: The yen’s move to a fi

Tokyo Kantei announced on January 22nd the average prices of existing condominiums in Japan’s three major metropolitan areas and key cities for the full year 2025, calculated on a standard 70-square-meter basis. Chart courtesy of Tokyo Kantei, edited by Patience Realty. In 2025, the average price of existing condominiums in the Greater Tokyo Area (GTA) surged to ¥57.96 million, up 22.1% from the previous year. After posting a 1.1% year-on-year decline in 2024, prices rebounde