According to ChainCatcher news, Jin10 reports that Japan's digital transformation minister Taro Kono stated that the Central Bank of Japan must gradually raise interest rates, as it is not ideal to maintain the real cost of borrowing at negative levels for a long period.

On August 18, Jin10 reported that Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono held the first strategic dialogue in Tokyo with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas. The two confirmed that they would advance cooperation in the field of security, including the early convening of a foreign and defense ministers' meeting (2+2).

Jin10 reported on July 2, that Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono held talks with Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar in Washington, D.C. on July 1. To facilitate Indian Prime Minister Modi's planned visit to Japan in late August, the two foreign ministers confirmed that they would cooperate in a wide range of areas, including security and economics. Kono emphasized that "the importance of Japan-India cooperation is continuously increasing, and we hope to play an active role in maintaining peace and stability in the international community." Jaishankar stated, "We hope to further deepen the relationship between the two countries and continue our cooperation in the international community."

Jin10 data reported on April 23rd, former Japanese Foreign Minister and former Digital Minister Taro Kono stated on Wednesday that before Japan engages in trade negotiations with Washington, authorities must first correct several misunderstandings held by President Trump. Taro Kono said, "President Trump may make changes based on market reactions, and the facts and figures he cites are incorrect. Therefore, we need to first correct his misunderstandings in order to bring our proposals to the table." Taro Kono also stated, "We definitely need to complete this negotiation, but we should not rush into it."

Japanese Finance Minister Taro Kono stated that he will observe the situation of the weakening yen more cautiously, considering it to be rapid and one-sided. He emphasized that Exchange Rate stability reflects the economic fundamentals, but did not comment on the level of Exchange Rate or intervention. On Wednesday night, the yen fell to its lowest level in nearly three months against the US dollar, as market speculation about the pace of the Fed's interest rate cuts boosted the dollar.

Kyodo News reported on October 3 that Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono held his first telephone talks with US Secretary of State Blinken on the evening of the 2nd, and the two sides reached an agreement on promoting the strengthening of the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-US alliance. In light of the 2+2 meeting of the Japanese and US foreign and defense ministers' security consultative committee in July, the two sides also confirmed the maintenance and strengthening of the rule-based economic order in the Indo-Pacific region, and cooperation in the field of economic security.

In the wake of the New Year's Day earthquake and recent comments by Central Bank Governor Kazuo Ueda, a growing number of Central Bank watchers have joined the ranks of postponing forecasts for the end of negative Intrerest Rate. BNP Paribas, Deutsche Securities and Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities have all adjusted their forecasts, expecting the Central Bank to be unlikely to lift negative Intrerest Rates at its January 22-23 meeting. The main reasons cited by economists are that Kazuo Ueda's comments indicate caution about acting ahead of time, and that the earthquake that struck Japan's northwest coast on January 1 increased economic uncertainty. Naomi Muguruma, chief fixed income strategist at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley, expects Japan's negative Intrerest Rate to end in April. Ryutaro Kono, chief Japan economist at BNP Paribas, and others believe that the Central Bank is likely to act at its April meeting.

Japan's GDP is expected to grow at an annual rate of 3.1 percent in the second quarter, the survey showed, marking the third straight quarter of expansion, from a 2.7 percent annualized rate in the first quarter. Japan's exports have held up despite slowing global demand. GDP likely expanded 0.8 percent in the second quarter from the previous quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ economist Shinichiro Kobayashi said the data will show that the Japanese economy is recovering moderately, with consumption and capital spending maintaining growth momentum. External demand likely contributed 0.9 percentage point to GDP growth in the second quarter, after constituting a 0.3 percentage point drag in the first quarter, the survey showed. Business capital spending is expected to rise 0.4 percent, compared with a 1.4 percent increase in the previous quarter, and private consumption is expected to rise 0.1 percent, compared with a 0.5 percent increase in the previous quarter. “Consumption has been recovering, mainly in services, as the economy reopens. But the recovery may be weak as inflation weighs on real incomes,” said Ryutaro Kono, chief economist for Japan at BNP Paribas.