The Japanese yen was one of the few currencies that failed to capitalise on the weak dollar in 2025, despite two rate hikes by the Bank of Japan (BOJ) during the year. TOKYO: Two major Japanese business lobbying groups called on the government to address the yen's weakness, which is inflating import costs and weighing on households and businesses, their chiefs told domestic media in separate interviews. Yoshinobu Tsutsui, head of Japan's biggest business lobby Keidanren, said in a group interview with multiple domestic media that the weak yen tends to be highlighted for its benefits, such as boosting profits for exporters. The yen was one of the few currencies that failed to capitalise on the weak US dollar in 2025, despite two rate hikes by the Bank of Japan (BoJ) during the year. As the weak yen has been a major factor behind inflation, the government and the BoJ "need to eliminate the sense of helplessness among small business owners that import materials from overseas", he said.

Source: New Strait Times January 01, 2026 22:01 UTC