Japan Post Bank amplifies its real estate holdings to $27 billion, marking a significant 17.6% uptick from last year. Their strategic global diversification, notably in North America and Europe, mirrors a broader trend of Japanese investors exploring overseas markets in the post-Covid era.

Japan will allow visa-free, independent tourism and abolish its daily arrival cap as of Oct. 11, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Thursday, marking a major policy shift after nearly 2½ years of strict COVID-19 restrictions. The government will also launch a nationwide travel discount program, which had been shelved due to the spread of COVID-19 infections. The moves will be welcomed by the nation’s tourism sector, which has been hit hard by the pandemic.

Japanese PM Kishida will announce a six-year economic and fiscal plan aimed at boosting growth through labor market reform, domestic investment, and higher productivity. The plan, starting in April 2025, aims for wage growth to surpass inflation, ending deflation. Fiscal policy will follow Japan’s primary budget surplus goal by March 2026.

USD/JPY surged past 151.00, nearing a 30-year high, as the US dollar gained over 400 pips against the yen in a week. This highlights the dollar's strength and yen's weakness amidst global financial dynamics. The Bank of Japan's rate hike fueled uncertainty, causing the yen to plummet. Market watchers await further impact on the currency pair.