March 14, Thursday, 2024

1. Bank of Japan Governor Ueda Kazuo says the outcome of spring wage negotiations is pivotal to central bank discussions about a change in its ultra-easy monetary policy. Ueda said, “We will consider revising our negative rate policy and the Yield Curve Control framework once the 2-percent inflation target is clearly in sight and sustained.
2. An Osprey transport aircraft has resume flights at a US base in Japan’s southern prefecture of Okinawa for the first time since they were grounded after a deadly crash last November. Japan’s Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday that the aircraft would resume flights in Japan in phases from Thursday, after maintenance and crew training are completed.
3. Japan’s ruling coalition parties are expected to reach a broad agreement on a framework that would allow the export of next-generation fighter jets co-developed with Britain and Italy. The main governing Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner, Komeito, have been discussing setting strict conditions on exports.