Latest news with #AkiraOtani
Asahi Shimbun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Asahi Shimbun
Two Japanese novels up for prestigious CWA Dagger award
Akira Otani, left, and Asako Yuzuki (Photo of Otani provided by Kawade Shobo Shinsha and photo of Yuzuki taken by Toko Tanaka) Amid the growing popularity of Japanese literature in Britain, two Japanese novels have made the final shortlist of six for the Dagger for Crime Fiction in Translation. 'The Night of Baba Yaga' by Akira Otani and 'Butter' by Asako Yuzuki were named finalists for the prestigious award, the London-based Crime Writers' Association announced on May 29. The winner will be announced on July 3. Translated by Sam Bett, Otani's 'The Night of Baba Yaga' follows Yoriko Shindo, a fierce, mixed-race fighter who is forced to work as a bodyguard for the sheltered daughter of a yakuza boss. Yuzuki's 'Butter' is a thriller that centers on Rika Machida, a journalist investigating Manako Kajii, a gourmet cook accused of seducing and murdering businessmen. Translated by Polly Barton, the English edition of 'Butter' has sold more than 400,000 copies, surpassing its original Japanese edition and becoming a best-seller in Britain. No Japanese author has ever won the CWA Dagger, although Hideo Yokoyama, Keigo Higashino and Kotaro Isaka have previously been shortlisted for the award. Pierre Lemaitre, a renowned French author whose works have a strong following in Japan, is also among the finalists this year.
Zawya
14-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
BOJ may halt rate hikes if yen nears 130 vs dollar, Goldman says
TOKYO - The Bank of Japan could halt interest rate hikes if the yen approached 130 to the dollar, Akira Otani, a former top central bank economist who is currently managing director at Goldman Sachs Japan, said on Monday. While risks from U.S. tariffs and the ensuing market volatility remain high, the BOJ is likely to proceed with gradual interest rate hikes as Japan's economy is seen achieving growth exceeding its potential, Otani wrote in a research note. However, the central bank could bring forward or accelerate rate hikes if the dollar exceeds 160, and conversely, "could consider halting rate increases if it were to approach 130," he said. The dollar fell 0.62% to 142.62 yen on Monday. While data up to the pre-pandemic period showed the benefits of a weaker yen on the Japanese economy, recent data no longer provided clear evidence of such positive impact, he said. The negative impact on the economy of a weaker yen is becoming more apparent as more companies pass on rising import costs to households, particularly for the elderly, Otani said. "In view of these changes, the BOJ appears to be more aware of the negative impact of a weaker yen" than in the past in setting monetary policy, Otani said. He added that the central bank appeared to be more tolerant of yen appreciation than in the past. (Reporting by Leika Kihara; Editing by Saad Sayeed)
Reuters
18-03-2025
- Business
- Reuters
BOJ to hike rates gradually given wage outlook, Goldman says
TOKYO, March 18 (Reuters) - The Bank of Japan is likely to keep hiking interest rates gradually as wages are seen rising at a pace that will keep inflation stably around its 2% target, according to recent estimates made by Goldman Sachs. Based on data so far, Japan's wage growth will likely accelerate to 3.0% this year from 2.8% in 2024, Goldman Sachs said in a report released on Monday. Make sense of global markets with the Trading Day newsletter. Sign up here. The estimate is based on projections that full-time workers' regular pay - crucial in gauging overall wage growth - will rise 2.9% in 2025, faster than a 2.6% gain in 2024, the report said. Such a pace is consistent with levels that will keep inflation sustainably around the BOJ's 2% target, it said. Akira Otani, a former top BOJ economist who is currently managing director at Goldman Sachs Japan, expects inflation to converge around the BOJ's 2% target if overall wages rise by around 3.0-3.1% this year, and roughly 3.3-3.4% in 2026. "If the pace of wage gains moves roughly in line with our findings, the BOJ is highly likely to keep raising interest rates gradually," Otani said. Wage hikes exceeding the range could speed up the pace and timing of BOJ rate hikes, while slower-than-expected wage gains could lead to a delay in rate hikes, he said. The BOJ is widely expected to keep interest rates steady at 0.5% at its two-day policy meeting concluding on Wednesday. Goldman Sachs expects the BOJ to raise rates to 0.75% in July, and keep hiking at a pace of roughly twice a year.
