EX-1 2 tm2420088d1_ex1.htm EXHIBIT 1

 

Exhibit 1

 

Japan

 

This description of Japan is dated August 7, 2024, and appears as Exhibit 1 to Japan’s Annual Report on Form 18-K to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024.

 

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THE DELIVERY OF THIS DOCUMENT AT ANY TIME DOES NOT IMPLY THAT THE INFORMATION IS CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO ITS DATE. THIS DOCUMENT (OTHERWISE THAN AS PART OF A PROSPECTUS CONTAINED IN A REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933) DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITIES OF OR GUARANTEED BY JAPAN.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

GENERAL   4
Area and Population  4
Government  4
Political Parties  4
Leadership  5
International Organizations  5
International Trade Agreements  6
THE ECONOMY  8
General  8
Summary of Key Economic Indicators  11
Gross Domestic Product and National Income  12
Industry  14
Energy  14
Price Indices  16
Labor  16
Aging Workforce and Population Decrease  19
FOREIGN TRADE AND BALANCE OF PAYMENTS  21
Foreign Trade  21
Balance of Payments  24
Foreign Exchange Rates  25
Foreign Direct Investment  25
FINANCIAL SYSTEM  29
The Bank of Japan and Monetary Policy  29
Government Financial Institutions  29
Private Financial Institutions  30
GOVERNMENT FINANCE  31
Revenues, Expenditures and Budgets  31
Tax Structure  36
Fiscal Investment and Loan Program  36
DEBT RECORD  38
JAPAN’S PUBLIC DEBT  38
INTERNAL DEBT  39
Direct Debt of the Japanese Government  39
Debt Guaranteed by the Japanese Government  42
EXTERNAL DEBT  43
Debt Guaranteed by the Japanese Government  43
SUBSCRIPTIONS TO INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL ORGANIZATIONS  44

 

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FURTHER INFORMATION

 

This document appears as an exhibit to Japan’s Annual Report filed with the Commission on Form 18-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024. Additional information with respect to Japan is available in such Annual Report, in the other exhibits to such Annual Report and in amendments thereto. Such Annual Report, exhibits and amendments may be inspected and copied at the public reference room maintained by the Commission at: 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Information regarding the operations of the public reference room can be obtained by calling the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330. The Annual Report and its exhibits and amendments are also available through the Commission’s Internet website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

In this document all amounts are expressed in Japanese Yen (“¥” or “yen”), except as otherwise specified. The spot buying rate quoted on the Tokyo Foreign Exchange Market on August 2, 2024 as reported by the Bank of Japan (the “BOJ”) at 5:00 p.m., Tokyo time, was ¥149.21=$1.00, and the noon buying rate on July 26, 2024 for cable transfers in New York City payable in yen, as reported by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, was ¥153.86=$1.00. See “Foreign Trade and Balance of Payments — Foreign Exchange Rates”.

 

References herein to Japanese fiscal years (“JFYs”) are to 12-month periods commenced or commencing in each case on April 1 of the year indicated and ended or ending on March 31 of the following year. References to years not specified as being JFYs are to calendar years.

 

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Japan

 

GENERAL

 

Area and Population

 

Japan, an archipelago in the western Pacific, consists of four main islands (Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu and Shikoku) which are mostly mountainous located in the same approximate range of latitude as the east coast of the United States north of Florida. The total area of Japan is approximately 146,000 square miles, which is slightly less than that of California and about 4% of the United States. It is bordered by the Sea of Japan to the west and north, and by the Pacific Ocean to the east and south.

 

Japan has a total population of approximately 124 million (estimated as of July 1, 2024). It has one of the highest population densities in the world and approximately 24.4% of its people (estimated as of October 1, 2023) are concentrated in three metropolitan areas (Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya). Japan’s rate of population decreased during the years 2019-2023 was 1.7%. Japan’s population decreased 0.5% during the 12 months ended October 1, 2023 (estimated as of October 1, 2023).

 

Government

 

The legislative power in Japan is vested in the Diet, which currently consists of a House of Representatives having 465 members and a House of Councillors having 248 members. Members of both houses are elected by direct universal suffrage, except that some members of each house are elected by proportional representation. The power of the House of Representatives is superior to that of the House of Councillors in respect of approving certain matters including the national budget and electing the Prime Minister.

 

The executive power is vested in the Cabinet consisting of a Prime Minister, elected by the Diet from among its members, and other Ministers appointed by the Prime Minister, a majority of whom must be members of the Diet. The judicial power is vested in the Supreme Court and such lower courts as are established by law.

 

Japan’s 47 prefectures, and its cities, towns and villages, have a certain degree of local autonomy through popularly elected legislative bodies and chief executives. The central government exercises its influence on local governments indirectly through financial aid and prescribing standards of local administration.

 

Political Parties

 

Members of the House of Representatives are elected for four-year terms unless the House of Representatives is dissolved prior to expiration of their terms. The House of Representatives was dissolved on October 14, 2021 and an election was held on October 31, 2021. 289 members were elected from single-member districts and 176 members were elected through a proportional representation process from 11 regional districts. Pursuant to a revision of the Public Offices Election Act in July 2018, the number of seats in the House of Councillors was increased to 248 from 242. The members are elected for six-year terms with one-half of the membership being elected every three years. In an election in July 2022, 124 members were elected, of which 50 members were elected through a proportional representation system and 74 members were elected from 45 districts that correspond to the 47 prefectures of Japan. Currently, the House of Councillors consists of 124 members whose term expires in July 2025 and 124 members whose term expires in July 2028.

 

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The following tables set forth the membership by political party of the House of Representatives as of July 18, 2024 and the House of Councillors as of July 18, 2024.

 

   House of
Representatives
 
Liberal Democratic Party   257 
The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Independent   99 
Japan Innovation Party and Free Education For All (Nippon Ishin and Free Education For All)   45 
Komeito   32 
Japanese Communist Party   10 
Democratic Party For the People   7 
Yushi no Kai   4 
REIWA SHINSENGUMI   3 
Independents   8 
Vacancies   0 
Total   465 

 

Source: House of Representatives.

 

   House of
Councillors
 
Liberal Democratic Party   115 
The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and Social Democratic Party   40 
Komeito   27 
Japan Innovation Party and Free Education For All (Nippon Ishin and Free Education For All)   21 
Democratic Party For the People and The Shin-Ryokufukai   11 
Japanese Communist Party   11 
REIWA SHINSENGUMI   5 
Okinawa Whirlwind   2 
The Party to Protect People from NHK   2 
Independents   12 
Vacancies   2 
Total   248 

 

 

Source: House of Councillors.

 

Leadership

 

Japan’s current Prime Minister is KISHIDA Fumio, a member of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan and member of the House of Representatives in the Diet. KISHIDA Fumio was elected as Japan’s 100th Prime Minister on October 4, 2021, succeeding the former Prime Minister SUGA Yoshihide.

 

International Organizations

 

Japan is a member of the United Nations and other international organizations, including the International Monetary Fund, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, International Development Association, International Finance Corporation, Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, Asian Development Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, Multilateral Investment Fund, Inter-American Investment Corporation, African Development Bank, African Development Fund, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and International Fund for Agricultural Development. See “Subscriptions to International Financial Organizations”.

 

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International Trade Agreements

 

Japan signed an agreement to join the Trans Pacific Partnership, or TPP, on February 4, 2016. Upon the ratification of the TPP, Japan and the other participating countries planned to not only eliminate tariffs on products but also liberalize services and investment, and establish rules in a wide range of fields, including intellectual property, e-commerce and the environment. Although Japan ratified the TPP on January 20, 2017, the United States announced its formal withdrawal from the TPP on January 23, 2017. On March 8, 2018, Japan and ten other countries excluding the United States signed the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, or CPTPP, pursuant to which each signatory country agreed to start the necessary preparations for the implementation of the TPP. The CPTPP entered into force for Japan, Mexico, Singapore, New Zealand, Canada, and Australia on December 30, 2018, for Vietnam on January 14, 2019, for Peru on September 19, 2021, for Malaysia on November 29, 2022, for Chile on February 21, 2023 and for Brunei on July 12, 2023. On February 1, 2021, the United Kingdom formally applied to join the CPTPP. On March 31, 2023, the United Kingdom and the members of the CPTTP concluded negotiations on the United Kingdom’s accession to the CPTPP. On July 16, 2023, the members of the CPTTP formally approved the United Kingdom’s application for membership. The United Kingdom is expected to join the CPTPP after ratification of the formal agreement by the United Kingdom and each of the party states.

 

Japan has also entered into Economic Partnership Agreements, or EPAs, with various countries, including Singapore, Mexico, Malaysia, Chile and Thailand. As of July 2024, Japan had entered into a total of 21 EPAs (including the TPP) with 24 countries and regions. Pursuant to the EPAs, Japan will collaborate comprehensively with the counterparties to, among other things, reduce or eliminate tariffs, grant most-favored-nation status in the fields of investment, services and government procurement and expedite patent review and enhance patent protection in the field of intellectual property.

 

Japan is also a member of international organizations which are based on international trade treaties and other agreements which seek to promote free trade in the international market, including the following: the World Trade Organization, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, the World Customs Organization and the International Trade Centre.

 

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The following is a map of Japan, illustrating its location with respect to neighboring countries:

 

 

 

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THE ECONOMY

 

General

 

Japan has a highly advanced and diversified economy, which has developed in response to changing conditions in Japan and the world. During the era of high economic growth in the 1960s and the early 1970s, the expansion was based on the development of heavy industries consuming large quantities of resources. During the 1980s, there was rapid growth in high value-added industries, such as electronics and precision instruments, which employ high level technology and consume relatively low quantities of resources. The service sector of the economy grew significantly during the 1980s and 1990s.

 

While the Japanese economy expanded during the period from 2002 to 2007, amidst that expansion, and prior to the global economic crisis of 2008, Japan continued to face several domestic economic difficulties. Among other things, domestic consumption contributed to the economic recovery to a lesser degree than was the case in prior economic growth periods. Also, despite the improving employment environment at the time, the average wage failed to grow appreciably. While those Japanese manufacturing companies with a global competitive edge achieved growth on the back of the favorable world economy, small-to-medium enterprises and non-manufacturing sectors realized only limited productivity growth and profitability. This in turn caused imbalance in the level of economic recovery among the different regions in Japan. In the longer term, Japan faced a declining population, mass retirement of the baby boomer generation, environmental/energy conservation agenda, and fiscal deficit problem. Against this backdrop, the subprime loan crisis in the United States and increases in the prices of energy and raw materials precipitated weakness in the global economy, caused the Japanese economy to deteriorate. Throughout JFY 2008, the global economy continued to worsen, as the collapse of several major financial institutions in the United States and other factors contributed to a credit tightening, volatility in stock, currency and other markets, loss of consumer confidence and decrease in business and industrial activities on a global basis. The Japanese economy was also adversely affected by these factors, especially as Japan’s export sector was hit by the decline in global demand and appreciation of the yen against other major currencies. After February 2008, Japan had entered a recession. The Japanese economy in JFY 2010 picked up, despite a difficult situation where the unemployment rate remained at a high level.

 

On March 11, 2011, just as the Japanese economy was in a transition from the state of stagnation to recovery, the Great East Japan Earthquake (the “Earthquake”) struck Japan. As a result, the Japanese economy posted negative growth for the first and second quarter in 2011. Unlike the cases of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in 1995 or Hurricane Katrina in 2005, personal consumption declined on a nationwide basis, with consumer sentiment deteriorating sharply after the Earthquake. The Earthquake had a severe impact on production in Japan through the shutdown of damaged factories, disruptions of the supply chains and power supply constraints. In particular, the Earthquake affected Japan’s auto industry which depends on the Tohoku region for the supply of key parts including semiconductors and other electronic components. The supply constraints and the slower growth in corporate earnings in the aftermath of the Earthquake also put downward pressure on capital investment activities. The Earthquake was accompanied by a nuclear power plant accident, which not only caused power supply constraints but also had a chilling effect on certain business activities, such as in the tourism and leisure sectors. Following the Earthquake, the number of visitors to Japan from foreign countries dropped by approximately half from the monthly averages in the prior year. The Earthquake and its aftermath prompted the Government of Japan to compile a series of supplementary budgets to support reconstruction efforts. On May 2, 2011, a first supplementary budget of approximately ¥4 trillion was approved by the Diet to finance reconstruction relating to damages from the Earthquake and tsunami. The budget was aimed at disaster relief, including providing temporary housing, rebuilding of facilities and disaster assistance loans. On July 25, 2011, the Japanese government approved a second supplementary budget of approximately ¥2 trillion aimed at further disaster relief, including increasing the Contingency Reserve for Recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake. On November 21, 2011, the Japanese government approved the third supplementary budget of approximately ¥12 trillion aimed at disaster relief, including provision of emergency support to people affected by the disaster and reconstruction of public utilities and facilities. On February 8, 2012, the Japanese government approved the fourth supplementary budget including the establishment of a government guaranteed ¥500 billion credit facility in response to the so-called “Overlapping Debt Problem”, whereby the burden of existing debt makes it difficult to raise funds for victims of the Earthquake. Thereafter, the Japanese government approved budgets of approximately ¥4 trillion for JFY 2012, ¥5 trillion for JFY 2013 and ¥4 trillion for JFY 2014 to finance reconstruction efforts.

 

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The Earthquake and the nuclear disaster in Fukushima were followed by severe flooding that occurred at the end of July 2011 in Thailand, one of Japan’s largest trading partners for both exports and imports. The suspended operations of the local factories in Thailand suppressed Japan’s Thailand bound exports of goods including intermediary materials for cars and electronics and thereby adversely affected the Japanese economy.

 

Thus, JFY 2011 started in a very challenging environment, with the Earthquake seriously crippling the economy, which posted negative growth for the first quarter. Over time, the government and the people joined forces in an all-out effort to rebuild the social and economic infrastructure, facilitating a rapid recovery of the supply chains and helping the economy on a track to a gradual recovery. Since the summer of 2011, however, the rapid appreciation of the yen, the reduced external demand due to the Thai flooding (as described above) and deceleration in the world economy stemming from the European sovereign debt crisis kept such recovery to a modest level.

 

In December 2012, the Cabinet Office of the Government of Japan announced “Abenomics” (named after the former Prime Minister ABE Shinzo), an economic strategy of pursuing an expansionary monetary policy, a flexible fiscal policy and an economic growth agenda that promotes private investment, with the goal of achieving GDP growth and job creation. Pursuant to this strategy, specific measures to be implemented include accelerating reconstruction efforts in areas damaged by the Earthquake, increasing stimulus spending and subsidies aimed at strategically important sectors and utilizing a more flexible approach to economic and fiscal management. Other more recent Abenomics measures include the liberalization of electricity retail sales in April 2016 and the liberalization of gas retail sales in April 2017.

 

Additionally, in January 2013, the Government of Japan and the BOJ issued a joint statement announcing measures to overcome deflation and achieve sustainable economic growth with price stability in order to establish a sustainable fiscal structure and sound fiscal management. In March 2013, KURODA Haruhiko, former President of the Asian Development Bank, was appointed as governor of the BOJ. In April 2013, the BOJ announced its new quantitative and qualitative monetary easing policy, under which the BOJ is aiming to achieve a price stability target of 2% in terms of the year-on-year rate of change in the consumer price index at the earliest possible time. Nominal GDP increased by 5.0% during JFY 2023, and the annual growth rate of real GDP was 1.0%. The Japanese Diet has passed comprehensive social security and tax reform, including an increase in the consumption tax rate from 5% to 8% in 2014, and from 8% to 10% in 2015. Accordingly, the consumption tax rate was increased to 8% in April 2014. The increase in the consumption tax rate from 8% to 10% was postponed but introduced in October 2019. Due in part to this increase in the consumption tax, real GDP decreased during the fourth quarter of 2019 by 2.8% compared to the prior quarter. In addition to the increase in the consumption tax rate, as part of the tax reform, the effective corporate tax rate was reduced from 34.62% to 32.11% for JFY 2015 and it was further reduced to 29.97% for JFY 2016 and to 29.74% for JFY 2018.

 

The Japanese economy faces certain challenges. Challenges for the Japanese economy include, as further described herein, an increased dependence on LNG and other energy imports as a result of the nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant and suspension of operations at other nuclear power plants and, over the long term, demographic challenges, such as the decline in the labor market due to the population aging and decreasing population, and the high levels of public debt and associated debt servicing payments. In addition, the Japanese economy is also exposed to challenges due to the potential impact of political disputes, technology and trade tensions with or among major trading partners, including China and the United States, as well as the potential escalation of geopolitical risks associated with the Middle East, North Korea or other countries or regions, which may negatively impact Japan’s international trade and economy more generally.

 

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According to the Monthly Economic Report published by the Cabinet Office of Japan for June 2024 published on June 27, 2024, the Japanese economy is recovering at a moderate pace, although it recently appears to be stalling, as the employment and income situation is improved and the implementation of various policies brought positive effects. Economic conditions in Japan may be negatively affected by the slowdown of major overseas economies including the effects of continued high interest rate levels in the U.S. and Europe as well as inflation, the situation in the Middle East and fluctuations in financial markets.

 

In addition, the global economy has recently been affected by Russia’s large-scale military activity against Ukraine that was initiated in February 2022 and the related economic sanctions imposed on certain Russian entities and persons by many major countries. In particular, financial and commodity markets have experienced significant volatility and energy prices have sharply increased mainly due to concerns regarding disruptions in oil and natural gas supply. Driven in part by increases in energy prices as well as increases in raw materials prices, there has been a significant inflationary trend in consumer prices in many major economies including Japan, and monetary authorities in some major economies have been tightening monetary policy in response to this trend. Depending on how the conflict develops and any additional economic sanctions imposed on Russia, as well as the impact of inflation and monetary policy developments, economic conditions in Japan and globally may be negatively affected for an uncertain period of time.

 

Specifically with respect to Japan, the year-on-year rate of increase in the consumer price index (the “CPI”) (all items less fresh food) has been at around 2% recently, mainly due to the waning but remaining effects of cost increases led by the existing rise in import prices being passed through to consumers, as well as a moderate increase in service prices. Looking forward, this trend is expected to continue. The year-on-year rate of increase in the CPI (all items less fresh food) is expected to remain above 2% through fiscal 2024, due to same factors such as the impact, albeit waning, of the pass-through to consumers of the cost increases stemming from the existing rise in import prices as well as the waning effects of the government’s economic measures to push down CPI inflation.

 

Thereafter, inflation is projected to moderately increase toward the price stability target, on the back of improvement in the output gap, rises in medium- to long-term inflation expectations and in wage growth.

 

While it is not clear how inflation will affect the Japanese yen, consumer and industrial prices in Japan, it is possible that inflationary trends may negatively affect the Japanese economy.

 

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Summary of Key Economic Indicators

 

The following tables set forth information regarding certain of Japan’s key economic indicators for the periods indicated:

 

   JFY 2019   JFY 2020   JFY 2021   JFY 2022   JFY 2023 
                     
   (yen amounts in billions, except percentages and index) 
Percentage Changes of GDP from Previous
Year
                         
At Nominal Prices   0.0%   -3.2%   3.0%   2.5%   5.0%
At Real Prices(a)   -0.8    -3.9    3.0    1.7    1.0 
Total Revenues of Consolidated General and
Special Accounts
(b)
  ¥251,292   ¥353,277   ¥322,651   ¥305,266   ¥284,280 
Total Expenditures of Consolidated General and Special Accounts(b)   232,905    305,846    285,348    269,810    277,287 
Surplus of Consolidated Revenues over Consolidated Expenditures(b)   18,387    47,431    37,303    35,456    6,993 
Public Debt   965,926    993,542    1,037,735    1,072,905    1,107,223 

 

 

(a)Real prices are based on calendar year 2015.

 

(b)The data for JFY 2023 is the provisional results as of December 31, 2023.

 

Source: Economic and Social Research Institute; Cabinet Office; and Ministry of Finance.

 

   2019   2020   2021   2022   2023 
                     
   (yen or dollar amounts in billions, except percentages and index) 
Unemployment Rate   2.4%   2.8%   2.8%   2.6%   2.6%
Consumer Price Index(a)   100.0    100.0    99.8    102.3    105.6 
Annual Change   0.5%   0.0%   -0.2%   2.5%   3.2%
Corporate Goods Price Index(b)   101.2    100.0    104.6    114.9    119.7 
Annual Change   0.2%   -1.2%   4.6%   9.8%   4.2%
Current Account regarding Balance of
Payments
  ¥19,251   ¥15,992   ¥21,467   ¥11,449   ¥21,381 
Official Foreign Exchange Reserves  $1,324   $1,395   $1,406   $1,228   $1,295 

 

 

(a)Calendar year 2020=100.

 

(b)Calendar year 2020=100. Indices are calculated using the monthly averages.

 

Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications “Labor Force Survey”; Consumer Price Index, Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications; Domestic Corporate Goods Price Index, Bank of Japan; and Ministry of Finance.

 

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Gross Domestic Product and National Income

 

The following table sets forth information pertaining to Japan’s gross domestic product for JFY 2019 through JFY 2023. Nominal GDP increased by 5.0% during JFY 2023, and the annual growth rate of real GDP was 1.0%.

 

Gross Domestic Product(a)

 

    JFY 2019      JFY 2020     JFY 2021      JFY 2022     JFY 2023     Percentage
of
JFY 2023
GDP
 
                                     
    (yen amounts in billions)  
Total Consumption                                                
Private sectors   ¥ 303,931     ¥ 289,442     ¥ 298,186     ¥ 315,921     ¥ 322,789       54.0 %
Public sectors     111,827       113,834       118,769       122,092       123,581       20.7  
      415,758       403,276       416,955       438,012       446,371       74.7  
Total Gross Capital Formation                                                
Private sectors                                                
Producers’ Durable Equipment     91,507       85,906       90,973       98,738       102,417       17.1  
Residential Construction     21,411       19,913       21,501       21,859       21,907       3.7  
Public sectors     29,297       30,814       29,795       29,278       30,353       5.1  
      142,216       136,633       142,268       149,875       154,676       25.9  
Additions to Business Inventories                                                
Private sectors     893       -574       2,276       3,611       1,911       0.3  
Public sectors     -5       -100       -9       -64       -60       -0.0  
      888       -673       2,267       3,548       1,851       0.3  
Net Exports of Goods and Services     -2,060       -408       -6,655       -22,772       -5,625       -0.9  
Nominal Gross Domestic Expenditures   ¥ 556,803     ¥ 538,827     ¥ 554,835     ¥ 568,663     ¥ 597,273       100.0 %
Real Gross Domestic Expenditures(b)   ¥ 550,114     ¥ 528,648     ¥ 544,728     ¥ 553,895     ¥ 559,239          
Surplus of the Nation on Current Account                                                
Exports of Goods and Services and Other Receipts from Abroad     34,364       30,254       41,368       51,320       57,463          
Less: Imports of Goods and Services and Other Payments Abroad     12,475       10,463       12,357       16,592       22,505          
      21,889       19,791       29,011       34,728       34,958          
Gross National Income   ¥ 578,692     ¥ 558,618     ¥ 583,846     ¥ 603,391     ¥ 632,231          
Percentage Changes of GDP from Previous Year                                                
At Nominal Prices     0.0 %     -3.2 %     3.0 %     2.5 %     5.0 %        
At Real Prices(b)     -0.8       -3.9       3.0       1.7       1.0          
Deflator(c)     0.8       0.7       -0.1       0.8       4.0          

  

 

(a)GDP financial data are subject to change.

 

(b)Real prices are based on calendar year 2015.

 

(c)Deflator is a price index used to convert nominal prices into real prices. Deflator is derived by dividing nominal GDP by real GDP.

 

Source: Economic and Social Research Institute, Cabinet Office

 

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The following table sets forth information pertaining to Japan’s gross domestic product, as seasonally adjusted, for each of the eight quarters ended March 31, 2024.

 

    Quarterly Gross Domestic Product(a)  
    2022     2023     2024  
    Second
Quarter
 
    Third
Quarter
 
    Fourth
Quarter
 
    First
Quarter
 
    Second
Quarter
 
    Third
Quarter
 
    Fourth
Quarter
 
    First
Quarter
 
 
                                                 
    (yen amounts in billions)  
Nominal Gross Domestic Expenditures(b)   ¥ 562,035     ¥ 558,977     ¥ 569,768     ¥ 582,824     ¥ 597,053     ¥ 595,187     ¥ 598,783     ¥ 597,414  
Real Gross Domestic Expenditures(b)(c)   ¥ 551,948     ¥ 550,893     ¥ 552,903     ¥ 559,271     ¥ 564,406     ¥ 558,676     ¥ 558,761     ¥ 554,728  
Percentage Changes of GDP from the Previous Quarter At Nominal Prices(d)     1.0 %     -0.5 %     1.9 %     2.3 %     2.4 %     -0.3 %     0.6 %     -0.2 %
At Real Prices(c)(d)     1.2       -0.2       0.4       1.2       0.9       -1.0       0.0       -0.7  
Deflator(e)     -0.2       -0.4       1.6       1.1       1.5       0.7       0.6       0.5  

 

 

(a)Quarterly GDP financial data are subject to change.

 

(b)Numbers are based on seasonally-adjusted GDP figures.

 

(c)Real prices are based on calendar year 2015.

 

(d)Percentage changes are based on seasonally-adjusted GDP figures.

 

(e)Deflator is a price index used to convert nominal prices into real prices. Deflator is derived by dividing nominal GDP by real GDP.

 

Source: Economic and Social Research Institute, Cabinet Office.

 

Per Capita Gross Domestic Product

 

The following table indicates per capita gross domestic product for the last five years.

 

    Per Capita GDP 
JFY   Amount
(in thousands of yen)
   Year-on-
year change (%)
 
2018   ¥4,392    0.3 
2019    4,401    0.2 
2020    4,272    -2.9 
2021    4,411    3.2 
2022    4,535    2.8 

 

National Income

 

The following table sets forth national income for calendar year 2018 through calendar year 2022.

 

   National Income 
   2018   2019   2020   2021   2022 
   (yen amounts in billions) 
Domestic Factor Income  ¥381,191   ¥379,551   ¥359,102   ¥366,786   ¥369,138 
Net Income from Abroad   21,289    21,857    19,798    26,414    34,018 
National Income at Factor Cost  ¥402,481   ¥401,408   ¥378,900   ¥393,200   ¥403,156 
Percentage Changes of Income at Factor Cost from Previous Year   0.4%   (0.3)%   (5.6)%   3.8%   2.5%

 

 

Source: Economic and Social Research Institute, Cabinet Office.

 

13 

 

 

Industry

 

The following table sets forth the proportion of gross domestic product contributed by major industrial sectors of the economy for calendar year 2018 through calendar year 2022.

 

GDP by Industrial Sectors (at nominal prices)

 

   2018   2019   2020   2021   2022 
Industry                    
Agriculture, forestry and fishing   1.0%   1.0%   1.0%   1.0%   1.0%
Mining   0.1    0.1    0.1    0.1    0.1 
Manufacturing   20.6    20.2    20.1    20.9    19.2 
Electricity, gas and water supply and waste management service   2.9    3.1    3.2    2.8    2.4 
Construction   5.4    5.5    5.7    5.6    5.2 
Wholesale and retail trade   12.7    12.4    12.8    13.2    14.3 
Transport and postal services   5.3    5.4    4.2    4.2    4.7 
Accommodation and food service activities   2.6    2.5    1.7    1.3    1.6 
Information and communications   4.9    4.9    5.1    5.0    4.9 
Finance and insurance   4.1    4.0    4.2    4.2    4.5 
Real estate   11.7    11.8    12.2    11.8    11.6 
Professional, scientific and technical activities   8.1    8.3    8.7    8.8    9.1 
Public administration   4.9    5.0    5.2    5.1    5.2 
Education   3.4    3.5    3.5    3.5    3.4 
Human health and social work activities   7.7    7.8    8.2    8.2    8.3 
Other service activities   4.0    4.1    3.7    3.8    3.9 
Total   99.5%   99.5%   99.6%   99.4%   99.3%

 

 

Source: Economic and Social Research Institute, Cabinet Office, Annual Report on National Accounts.

 

Energy

 

The following table sets forth the total amounts of primary energy supplied and the percentages supplied by different sources for JFY 2018 through JFY 2022.

 

        Sources of Primary Energy Supplied(a) 
JFY   Total
Primary
Energy
Supplied
(peta-joules)
   Oil   Coal   Nuclear   Natural
Gas
   Other 
2018(b)    19,697    37.5%   25.1%   2.8%   22.9%   11.6%
2019(b)    19,126    37.1    25.3    2.8    22.4    12.4 
2020(b)    17,959    36.5    24.6    1.8    23.8    13.3 
2021(b)    18,715    36.1    25.7    3.2    21.4    13.6 
2022(b)    18,314    36.1    25.7    2.6    21.5    14.0 

 

 

(a)Figures represent the proportion of each source as a share of the domestic primary energy supplied. Domestic primary energy supplied is total primary energy supplied less exports and inventory adjustments.

 

(b)Standard heating value by energy source, which is used to create total primary energy supplied statistics, is revised every five years. Figures for 2018 through 2022 represent the revised standard heating value by energy source.

 

Source: Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Report on Energy Supply and Demand.

 

14 

 

 

Since JFY 2011, largely due to the effects of the Earthquake, the import of oil and natural gas as alternatives to nuclear energy increased significantly as the demand increased for power generation at thermal power stations.

 

The table below sets forth information regarding crude oil imports for JFY 2019 through JFY 2023.

 

   JFY 2019   JFY 2020   JFY 2021   JFY 2022  

JFY 2023

 
Volume of imports (thousand kilo-liters per day)   470    385    406    435    396 
Cost of imports (c.i.f. in billions of yen)  ¥7,980   ¥4,058   ¥8,078   ¥13,839   ¥11,294 
Average price (c.i.f. in yen kilo-liters)  ¥46,389   ¥28,873   ¥54,575   ¥87,237   ¥77,875 

 

 

Source: Customs and Tariff Bureau, Ministry of Finance.

 

Japan has historically depended on oil for most of its energy requirements and almost all its oil is imported, mostly from the Middle East. Oil price movements thus have a major impact on the domestic economy. Although the oil price significantly declined soon after the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020, below ¥20,000 per kilo-liter in May 2020, it has steadily increased since then, as the world economy has gradually recovered from the impact of COVID-19. Recently, the oil price has increased sharply and remained high at ¥86,543 per kilo-liter in June 2024, in part due to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the resulting disruption in the oil supply.

 

The following table sets forth information relating to total electric power generating capacity and electric power generation for JFY 2018 through JFY 2022.

 

   JFY 2018   JFY 2019   JFY 2020   JFY 2021   JFY 2022 
Electric power generating capacity(a):   (megawatts) 
Fossil Fuel   193,026    189,784    191,758    188,256    187,879 
Hydro-electric   50,037    50,033    50,033    50,009    50,008 
Nuclear   38,042    33,083    33,083    33,083    33,083 
Other   18,988    20,997    23,677    25,851    28,479 
Total   300,093    293,897    298,550    297,197    299,450 
Electric power generation:   (gigawatt-hours)
Fossil Fuel   823,589    792,810    789,725    776,326    758,485 
Nuclear   62,109    61,035    37,011    67,767    53,524 
Hydro-electric   87,398    86,314    86,310    87,632    85,034 
Other   27,311    30,611    35,637    38,525    41,969 
Total   1,000,409    970,771    948,979    970,249    939,025 

 

 

(a)At the end of fiscal year — March 31

 

Source: Handbook of Electric Power Industry, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

 

On October 26, 2020, former Prime Minister SUGA Yoshihide declared that Japan intends to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. To this end, Japan aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to virtually zero by 2050 and realize a decarbonized society. On December 25, 2020, the government developed formulated a “Green Growth Strategy Through Achieving Carbon Neutrality in 2050,” which sets high goals for 14 key fields across energy, transportation/manufacturing and home/office industries. This strategy makes explicit current challenges and future actions by priority field, and formulates action plans covering comprehensive policies in areas such as budgets, taxes, regulation reforms and standardization, and international collaboration. In addition, on June 9, 2021, the government decided on a regional decarbonization roadmap that outlines the process and concrete measures for transitioning to decarbonized society. Based on this roadmap, the Japanese government intends to propagate decarbonization throughout Japan by creating at least 100 decarbonization leading areas by FY2030 and implementing priority measures that will serve as the foundation for decarbonization throughout Japan, especially through an intensive five-year period of policy implementation. The administration of the current Prime Minister, KISHIDA Fumio, has succeeded the policy of the former Prime Minister, SUGA Yoshihide. The Japanese government announced the “Basic Policy on Economic and Fiscal Management and Reform 2022” on June 7, 2022, which intends to focus on investment in green transformation (GX). The “Basic Policy on Economic and Fiscal Management and Reform 2023” announced on June 16, 2023 continues to focus on accelerating GX investments.

 

15 

 

 

 

Price Indices

 

The table below sets forth information concerning changes in Japan’s corporate goods and consumer price indices for the periods indicated.

 

    Corporate Goods Price
Index
(a)
   Consumer Price
Index
(b)
 
    Index(c)   Annual %
Change
   Index   Annual %
Change
 
2019    101.2    0.2    100.0    0.5 
2020    100.0    -1.2    100.0    0.0 
2021    104.6    4.6    99.8    -0.2 
2022    114.9    9.8    102.3    2.5 
2023    119.7    4.2    105.6    3.2 

 

 

(a)All commodities. Calendar year 2020=100. Source: Domestic Corporate Goods Price Index, Bank of Japan.

 

(b)General index. Calendar year 2020=100. Source: Consumer Price Index, Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

 

(c)Indices are calculated using the monthly averages.

 

Labor

 

The number of employees increased from 2004 to 2007 and decreased from 2008 to 2012. After recovering in 2013, the number of employees increased from 2014 to 2019, followed by a decrease in 2020, the first in eight years. Then it recovered and increased for three consecutive years from 2021 to 2023. In 2022, average employment was estimated at 67.2 million, of which 22.7% were employed in mining, manufacturing and construction, 3.0% were employed in agriculture, forestry and fisheries, and 74.3% were employed in services and other sectors. In 2023, the average employment was estimated at 67.5 million, of which 22.8% were employed in mining, manufacturing and construction, 2.9% were employed in agriculture, forestry and fisheries, and 74.2% in services and other sectors. The unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted) in Japan gradually increased from 2008 to the middle of 2009, but has gradually decreased since the end of 2009. The unemployment rate increased in 2020 for the first time in eleven years, decreased in 2022 for the first time in three years and then maintaining the same rate in 2023. It ranged between 2.5% and 2.7% during 2023. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 2.4% for January, 2.6% for February, 2.6% for March, 2.6% for April and 2.6% for May in 2024, the most recent five months for which statistics are available. Concerning short-term prospects, employment conditions in Japan are expected to continue to improve as the implementation of various policies brought positive effects to the entire economy. However, both the duration and extent of the impact on employment in Japan remain highly uncertain.

 

The following table indicates unemployment statistics for Japan for each of the last five years:

 

Calendar Year   Unemployment Rate (%) 
2019    2.4 
2020    2.8 
2021    2.8 
2022    2.6 
2023    2.6 

 

 

Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications “Labor Force Survey”.

 

16 

 

 

The table below sets forth information regarding wage index (total cash earnings (nominal)) and industrial production index (manufacturing and mining) for the periods indicated.

 

    Wage Index(a)   Industrial
Production
Index
(b)
 
    Index(c)   Annual %
Change
   Index   Annual %
Change
 
2019    101.2    -0.4    111.6    -2.6 
2020    100.0    -1.2    100.0    -10.4 
2021    100.3    0.3    105.4    5.4 
2022    102.3    2.0    105.3    -0.1 
2023    103.5    1.2    103.9    -1.3 

 

 

(a)Calendar year 2020=100. Source: Monthly Labor Survey, Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

 

(b)Calendar year 2020=100. Source: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

 

(c)Indices are calculated using the monthly averages.

 

The following table shows selected employment information by industry.

 

   2019   2020   2021   2022   2023 
   (all figures in percentages, except as indicated) 
Employed persons (in thousands of persons)   67,500    67,100    67,130    67,230    67,470 
Employment by Industry:                         
Agriculture, forestry and fisheries   3.29%   3.17%   3.10%   3.05%   2.95%
Mining, manufacturing and construction   23.26    23.06    22.84    22.68    22.82 
Services and other sectors   73.45    73.77    74.07    74.27    74.23 
Total   100.0%   100.0%   100.0%   100.0%   100.0%

 

 

Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications “Labor Force Survey”.

 

17 

 

 

The following table shows employment rate by age and gender.

 

   2019   2020   2021   2022   2023 
   (all figures in percentages) 
Total   60.6%   60.3%   60.4%   60.9%   61.2%
Employment rate by age:                         
15 – 64 years old   77.7    77.3    77.7    78.4    78.9 
15 – 24 years old   47.5    46.4    46.6    46.6    47.8 
25 – 34 years old   85.3    85.1    86.0    86.6    86.8 
35 – 44 years old   85.6    85.0    85.4    86.2    86.6 
45 – 54 years old   86.4    86.0    86.0    86.6    86.8 
55 – 64 years old   76.3    76.7    77.0    78.1    78.7 
55 – 59 years old   82.3    82.2    82.1    82.8    83.1 
60 – 64 years old   70.3    71.0    71.5    73.0    74.0 
65 and over   24.9    25.1    25.1    25.2    25.2 
65 – 69 years old   48.4    49.6    50.3    50.8    52.0 
70 – 74 years old   32.2    32.5    32.6    33.5    34.0 
75 and over   10.3    10.4    10.5    11.0    11.4 
Employment rate by gender:                         
Male   69.7    69.3    69.1    69.4    69.5 
Female   52.2    51.8    52.2    53.0    53.6 

 

 

Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications “Labor Force Survey”.

 

The following table shows employment data by type of employment.

 

   2019   2020   2021   2022   2023 
   (in thousands of persons)
Employee (except for executive of company or corporation)   56,880    56,550    56,620    56,890    57,300 
Regular employee   35,150    35,560    35,870    35,880    36,060 
Non-regular employee   21,730    21,000    20,750    21,010    21,240 

 

 

Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications “Labor Force Survey”.

 

18 

 

 

Aging Workforce and Population Decrease

 

One of the risks that the Japanese economy bears is the issue of the aging of the population accompanied with an overall population decrease. Population aging and decrease have placed downward pressure on economic growth. The negative impact can be reduced by enhancing productivity and competitiveness through the further opening of the Japanese economy to the world. These trends have an impact not only on the macro growth rate but also on consumption patterns (such as the older generations spending more than younger generations on service consumption) and, consequently, the country’s economic structure.

 

The impact of the aging and shrinking population on Japan’s fiscal structure looms as a long-term risk. Social security benefit payments under the current system continues to increase. The ratio of pensions to national income are expected to remain at the same level, but that of welfare including medical benefits and nursing-care benefits have continuously increased and is expected to further grow. Population aging and decrease will thus modify the Japanese revenue structure. Furthermore, amid increasing capital mobility, it is imperative for Japan to foster an environment attractive to business enterprises. Under these circumstances, it has become more and more difficult to impose additional tax burdens on the income of individuals and corporations. The effects of the aging and shrinkage of the population would also be prominent in Japan’s regional economies.

 

The following table indicates the age distribution of Japan’s population:

 

Population and Percentage distribution by Age (5-Year Age Group)

 

   Both sex 
Age groups  2019   2020   2021   2022   2023 
   Population (in thousands of persons) 
Total   126,167    126,146    125,502    124,947    124,352 
0 – 4 years old   4,758    4,541    4,389    4,247    4,087 
5 – 9   5,101    5,114    5,038    4,948    4,838 
10 – 14   5,351    5,376    5,357    5,308    5,248 
15 – 19   5,820    5,706    5,580    5,512    5,494 
20 – 24   6,388    6,320    6,263    6,263    6,236 
25 – 29   6,240    6,384    6,379    6,412    6,479 
30 – 34   6,752    6,714    6,556    6,446    6,380 
35 – 39   7,551    7,498    7,354    7,212    7,047 
40 – 44   8,718    8,476    8,173    7,946    7,765 
45 – 49   9,802    9,868    9,732    9,462    9,115 
50 – 54   8,567    8,738    9,252    9,435    9,650 
55 – 59   7,711    7,940    7,824    8,075    8,279 
60 – 64   7,523    7,442    7,391    7,445    7,507 
65 – 69   8,709    8,236    7,869    7,535    7,332 
70 – 74   8,686    9,189    9,672    9,337    8,817 
75 – 79   7,241    7,065    6,712    7,030    7,474 
80 – 84   5,328    5,404    5,563    5,743    5,895 
85 – 89   3,612    3,742    3,872    3,955    3,979 
90 – 94   1,761    1,811    1,904    1,989    2,045 
95 – 99   479    500    537    561    597 
100 and over   69    80    85    87    87 
Regrouped                         
0 – 14 years old   15,210    15,032    14,784    14,503    14,173 
15 – 64   75,072    75,088    74,504    74,208    73,952 
65 and over   35,885    36,027    36,214    36,236    36,227 
65 – 74 years old   17,395    17,425    17,540    16,872    16,149 
75 and over   18,490    18,602    18,674    19,364    20,078 

 

19 

 

 

   Both sex 
Age groups  2019   2020   2021   2022   2023 
   Percentage Distribution (%) 
Total   100.00    100.00    100.00    100.00    100.00 
0 – 4 years old   3.77    3.60    3.50    3.40    3.29 
5 – 9   4.04    4.05    4.01    3.96    3.89 
10 – 14   4.24    4.26    4.27    4.25    4.22 
15 – 19   4.61    4.52    4.45    4.41    4.42 
20 – 24   5.06    5.01    4.99    5.01    5.01 
25 – 29   4.95    5.06    5.08    5.13    5.21 
30 – 34   5.35    5.32    5.22    5.16    5.13 
35 – 39   5.98    5.94    5.86    5.77    5.67 
40 – 44   6.91    6.72    6.51    6.36    6.24 
45 – 49   7.77    7.82    7.75    7.57    7.33 
50 – 54   6.79    6.93    7.37    7.55    7.76 
55 – 59   6.11    6.29    6.23    6.46    6.66 
60 – 64   5.96    5.90    5.89    5.96    6.04 
65 – 69   6.90    6.53    6.27    6.03    5.90 
70 – 74   6.88    7.28    7.71    7.47    7.09 
75 – 79   5.74    5.60    5.35    5.63    6.01 
80 – 84   4.22    4.28    4.43    4.60    4.74 
85 – 89   2.86    2.97    3.09    3.17    3.20 
90 – 94   1.40    1.44    1.52    1.59    1.64 
95 – 99   0.38    0.40    0.43    0.45    0.48 
100 and over   0.05    0.06    0.07    0.07    0.07 
Regrouped                         
0 – 14 years old   12.06    11.92    11.78    11.61    11.40 
15 – 64   59.50    59.52    59.36    59.39    59.47 
65 and over   28.44    28.56    28.86    29.00    29.13 
65 – 74 years old   13.79    13.81    13.98    13.50    12.99 
75 and over   14.66    14.75    14.88    15.50    16.15 

 

 

If the population of Japan continues to decrease, it may have a material adverse impact on Japan’s overall socioeconomics in the future, including with respect to economic scale, standard of living and sustainability of the social security system.

 

20 

 

 

 

FOREIGN TRADE AND BALANCE OF PAYMENTS

 

Foreign Trade

 

In 2022, Japan had a trade deficit of ¥20,330 billion due to an increase in imports including crude oil and coal, which was partially offset by an increase in exports including automobiles and mineral fuel. In 2023, Japan had a trade deficit of ¥9,322 billion reflecting an increase in exports automobiles and machinery for construction and mining, which was partially offset by a decrease in imports including crude oil and coal. However, potential international trade disruptions resulting from the conflict between Russia and Ukraine on exports, imports and the overall trade balance is highly uncertain.

 

The following tables set forth information relating to foreign trade for the years indicated. In these tables exports are stated on a free on board (“f.o.b.”) basis and imports on a cost insurance and freight (“c.i.f.”) basis. Monetary figures are based on actual movements of goods as calculated by the Ministry of Finance. (This method of computation differs from that used in calculating balance of payments, in which both exports and imports are stated on an f.o.b. basis.)

 

Foreign Trade of Japan

 

   Value Index(a)  Quantum Index(a)  Unit Value Index(a)  Terms of
Trade
(b)
 
   Exports  Imports  Exports  Imports  Exports  Imports  Index 
2019  112.5  115.6  113.2  106.9  99.3  108.2  91.8 
2020  100.0  100.0  100.0  100.0  100.0  100.0  100.0 
2021  121.5  124.8  110.7  104.8  109.7  119.1  92.1 
2022  143.5  174.2  110.0  104.4  130.4  166.9  78.1 
2023  147.5  162.0  105.7  99.3  139.5  163.1  85.5 

 

 

(a)Calendar year 2020=100.

 

(b)Unit value index of exports divided by unit value index of imports, multiplied by 100.

 

Source: Japan Tariff Association, Ministry of Finance.

 

21 

 

 

Composition of Japan’s Exports and Imports

 

   2019   2020   2021   2022   2023 
                     
   (yen amounts in billions) 
JAPAN’S EXPORTS                                        
Textile Products  ¥886  1.2%  ¥754  1.1%  ¥862  1.0%  ¥1,003  1.0%  ¥1,036  1.0%
Metals and Metal Products   5,659  7.4    5,204  7.6    7,140  8.6    8,556  8.7    8,275  8.2 
Machinery and Equipment:                                        
Ships   1,493  1.9    1,142  1.7    1,050  1.3    1,157  1.2    1,350  1.3 
Motor Vehicles   11,971  15.6    9,580  14.0    10,722  12.9    13,012  13.3    17,265  17.1 
TV and Radio Receivers   116  0.2    89  0.1    96  0.1    72  0.1    81  0.1 
Motorcycles   267  0.3    225  0.3    307  0.4    414  0.4    492  0.5 
Scientific and Optical Instruments   2,130  2.8    1,968  2.9    2,322  2.8    2,511  2.6    2,497  2.5 
Other(a)   32,700  42.5    29,532  43.2    35,803  43.1    40,751  41.5    39,740  39.4 
Total Machinery and Equipment   48,678  63.3    42,536  62.2    50,300  60.5    57,917  59.0    61,425  60.9 
Chemicals   8,739  11.4    8,534  12.5    10,552  12.7    11,794  12.0    11,024  10.9 
Foods and Beverages   754  1.0    790  1.2    992  1.2    1,137  1.2    1,127  1.1 
Other Exports(b)   12,216  15.9    10,581  15.5    13,244  15.9    17,767  18.1    17,987  17.8 
Grand Total  ¥76,932  100.0%  ¥68,399  100.0%  ¥83,091  100.0%  ¥98,174  100.0%  ¥100,874  100.0%
JAPAN’S IMPORTS                                        
Foods and Beverages  ¥7,192  9.1%  ¥6,679  9.8%  ¥7,383  8.7%  ¥9,494  8.0%  ¥9,339  8.5%
Raw Materials   4,861  6.2    4,682  6.9    6,936  8.2    8,150  6.9    7,186  6.5 
Chemicals   8,163  10.4    7,859  11.6    9,769  11.5    13,331  11.2    11,548  10.5 
Mineral Fuels:                                        
Petroleum   7,969  10.1    4,646  6.8    6,929  8.2    13,453  11.4    11,364  10.3 
Coal   2,528  3.2    1,708  2.5    2,801  3.3    7,820  6.6    5,861  5.3 
Other(c)   6,453  8.2    4,900  7.2    7,277  8.6    12,426  10.5    10,109  9.2 
Total Mineral Fuel   16,951  21.6    11,254  16.5    17,007  20.0    33,699  28.4    27,334  24.8 
Machinery and Equipment   25,319  32.2    22,973  33.8    26,766  31.5    32,554  27.5    34,381  31.2 
Other Imports(d)   16,114  20.5    14,564  21.4    17,014  20.0    21,275  18.0    20,409  18.5 
Grand Total  ¥78,600  100.0%  ¥68,011  100.0%  ¥84,875  100.0%  ¥118,503  100.0%  ¥110,196  100.0%

 

 

(a)This category includes general machinery, electronic components including semiconductors and electronic equipment including electronic circuit.

(b)This category includes raw materials, mineral fuels and vehicle parts.

(c)This category includes liquid natural gas and petroleum products.

(d)This category includes clothing and accessories thereof, non-ferrous metal and scientific and optical instruments.

 

Source: The Summary Report on Trade of Japan, Japan Tariff Association, Ministry of Finance.

 

22 

 

 

Geographic Distribution of Japan’s Exports and Imports

 

   2019   2020   2021   2022   2023 
                     
   (yen amounts in billions) 
JAPAN’S EXPORTS                                        
Asia  ¥41,327  53.7%  ¥39,220  57.3%  ¥48,158  58.0%  ¥55,406  56.4%  ¥52,498  52.0%
China   14,682  19.1    15,082  22.1    17,984  21.6    19,004  19.4    17,764  17.6 
(Asia NIES)   15,597  20.3    14,808  21.6    17,849  21.5    21,256  21.7    19,808  19.6 
(ASEAN)   11,578  15.1    9,843  14.4    12,461  15.0    15,544  15.8    14,718  14.6 
Oceania   2,053  2.7    1,688  2.5    2,194  2.6    2,816  2.9    3,019  3.0 
Australia   1,580  2.1    1,295  1.9    1,675  2.0    2,173  2.2    2,356  2.3 
North America   16,222  21.1    13,384  19.6    15,748  19.0    19,387  19.7    21,797  21.6 
U.S.A.   15,255  19.8    12,611  18.4    14,832  17.8    18,255  18.6    20,260  20.1 
Canada   968  1.3    773  1.1    917  1.1    1,132  1.2    1,537  1.5 
Central and South America   3,221  4.2    2,285  3.3    3,086  3.7    3,737  3.8    4,352  4.3 
Western Europe   9,010  11.7    7,651  11.2    8,851  10.7    10,741  10.9    12,232  12.1 
EU(a)   8,955  11.6    6,460  9.4    7,668  9.2    9,358  9.5    10,374  10.3 
Central and Eastern Europe, Russia etc.   1,757  2.3    1,514  2.2    1,946  2.3    2,034  2.1    2,026  2.0 
Russia   783  1.0    628  0.9    862  1.0    604  0.6    396  0.4 
Middle East   2,356  3.1    1,809  2.6    2,052  2.5    2,782  2.8    3,552  3.5 
Africa   984  1.3    848  1.2    1,055  1.3    1,272  1.3    1,399  1.4 
Total  ¥76,932  100.0%  ¥68,399  100.0%  ¥83,091  100.0%  ¥98,174  100.0%  ¥100,874  100.0%
JAPAN’S IMPORTS                                        
Asia  ¥37,413  47.6%  ¥34,678  51.0%  ¥41,079  48.4%  ¥53,401  45.1%  ¥51,986  47.2%
China   18,454  23.5    17,508  25.7    20,382  24.0    24,850  21.0    24,420  22.2 
(Asia NIES)   7,231  9.2    6,706  9.9    8,293  9.8    10,956  9.2    10,778  9.8 
(ASEAN)   11,757  15.0    10,678  15.7    12,483  14.7    17,715  14.9    16,905  15.3 
Oceania   5,587  7.1    4,359  6.4    6,434  7.6    12,693  10.7    9,969  9.0 
Australia   4,958  6.3    3,831  5.6    5,753  6.8    11,622  9.8    9,092  8.3 
North America   9,935  12.6    8,631  12.7    10,430  12.3    13,945  11.8    13,590  12.3 
U.S.A.   8,640  11.0    7,454  11.0    8,916  10.5    11,759  9.9    11,547  10.5 
Canada   1,286  1.6    1,169  1.7    1,507  1.8    2,175  1.8    2,033  1.8 
Central and South America   3,169  4.0    2,998  4.4    3,679  4.3    4,854  4.1    4,724  4.3 
Western Europe   10,394  13.2    9,021  13.3    10,860  12.8    13,037  11.0    13,019  11.8 
EU(a)   9,722  12.4    7,832  11.5    9,453  11.1    11,446  9.7    11,301  10.3 
Central and Eastern Europe, Russia etc.   2,333  3.0    1,843  2.7    2,375  2.8    2,985  2.5    2,059  1.9 
Russia   1,561  2.0    1,145  1.7    1,552  1.8    1,972  1.7    1,037  0.9 
Middle East   8,852  11.3    5,558  8.2    8,471  10.0    15,608  13.2    13,330  12.1 
Africa   918  1.2    922  1.4    1,531  1.8    1,981  1.7    1,518  1.4 
Grand Total  ¥78,600  100.0%  ¥68,011  100.0%  ¥84,875  100.0%  ¥118,503  100.0%  ¥110,196  100.0%

 

 

Source: Press Releases, Ministry of Finance.

 

(a)Data after February 2020 does not include the United Kingdom, as the United Kingdom exited the European Union (EU) on January 31, 2020.

 

23 

 

 

Balance of Payments

 

In 2023, Current Account surplus increased to ¥21,381 billion, mainly due to an increase in exports reflecting increased exports of automobiles, construction and mining equipment, and ships, and a decrease in imports reflecting decreases in energy prices throughout the year.

 

Balance of Payments of Japan

 

   2019  2020  2021  2022  2023 
                 
   (in billions of yen) 
Current Account  ¥19,251  ¥15,992  ¥21,467  ¥11,449  ¥21,381 
Balance on Goods and Services   -932   -877   -2,483   -21,067   -9,417 
Trade Balance   150   2,778   1,762   -15,511   -6,501 
Exports (f.o.b.)   75,775   67,263   82,353   98,858   100,355 
Imports (f.o.b.)   75,625   64,485   80,590   114,369   106,856 
Services   -1,082   -3,655   -4,246   -5,556   -2,916 
Primary Income(a)   21,553   19,439   26,309   35,048   34,924 
Secondary Income(b)   -1,370   -2,570   -2,359   -2,533   -4,126 
Capital Account   -413   -207   -423   -114   -400 
Financial Account(c)   24,862   14,125   16,768   6,425   23,304 
Assets   -9,883   -15,143   -13,295   -44,011   -48,411 
Liabilities   -34,745   -29,268   -30,063   -50,436   -71,715 
Net Errors and Omissions   6,024   -1,659   -4,276   -4,909   2,323 

 

 

(a)Primary Income mainly shows balance of payments of interests and dividends from external financial credits and debts and includes such items as receipt and payment of dividends and interests between parent companies and their subsidiaries, receipt and payment of stock dividends and bond interests, and receipt and payment of interests related to loans, borrowings, and deposits.

(b)Secondary Income shows balance of payments of provision of assets unaccompanied by consideration between residents and non-residents and includes such items as receipt and payment of financial support, donations, and gifts by the government or by the people.

(c)Positive figures (+) show increases in net assets, negative figures (-) show decreases in net assets in “Financial Account”.

 

Source: Balance of Payments, Ministry of Finance.

 

Official Reserves Assets

 

As of December 31,  Gold(a)  Foreign
Currency
Reserves
  IMF Reserve
Position
  SDRs (Special
Drawing
Rights)
  Other Reserve
Assets
  Total 
                    
   (in millions of dollars) 
2019  $37,469  $1,255,322  $11,202  $19,176  $581  $1,323,750 
2020   46,526   1,312,160   15,147   20,215   632   1,394,680 
2021   49,505   1,278,925   10,643   62,330   4,347   1,405,750 
2022   49,295   1,103,907   10,817   59,275   4,282   1,227,576 
2023   56,095   1,159,849   10,597   57,508   10,588   1,294,637 

 

 

(a)The valuation of gold reflects marked-to-market values.

 

Source: International Reserves/Foreign Currency Liquidity, Ministry of Finance.

 

24 

 

 

Foreign Exchange Rates

 

The following table sets forth the high, low and average daily interbank rate for the U.S. dollar against the yen in the Tokyo foreign exchange market for the years indicated.

 

   2019  2020  2021  2022  2023 
                 
Average (Central Rate)  ¥108.99  ¥106.73  ¥109.89  ¥131.57  ¥140.59 
High   112.24   112.18   115.45   150.48   151.80 
Low   104.46   101.60   102.60   113.63   127.22 

 

 

Source: Status of Transactions on Tokyo Foreign Exchange Market, Bank of Japan.

 

In recent months, the exchange rate for the U.S. dollar against the yen has sharply increased. As of August 2, 2024, the spot buying rate quoted on the Tokyo foreign exchange market as reported by the BOJ at 5:00 p.m., Tokyo time, was ¥149.21 = $1.00, and the noon buying rate on July 26, 2024 for cable transfers in New York City payable in yen, as reported by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, was ¥153.86 = $1.00.

 

Foreign exchange intervention is conducted to influence foreign exchange rates by buying and selling currencies in the foreign exchange market. In Japan, foreign exchange intervention is to be carried out under the authority of the Minister of Finance. The BOJ conducts foreign exchange interventions on behalf of and at the instruction of the minister. When the minister deems it necessary to intervene in the foreign exchange market, the Ministry of Finance gives the BOJ specific instructions for foreign exchange intervention. With respect to funding, as foreign exchange intervention involves buying and selling currencies, it requires funds such as Japanese yen and U.S. dollars. In Japan, the Foreign Exchange Fund Special Account (FEFSA), which falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance, is used for foreign exchange intervention.

 

The total amount of foreign exchange intervention operations by the Ministry of Finance for the period from August 30, 2022 through October 27, 2022 was ¥9,188.1 billion. Following such operations, Japan’s reserve assets totaled $1,194,568 million as of October 31, 2022, down $97,504 million from the end of August. The total amount of foreign exchange intervention operations by the Ministry of Finance for the period from April 26, 2024 through May 29, 2024 was ¥9,788.5 billion. Following such operations, Japan’s reserve assets totaled $1,231,572 million as of May 31, 2024, down $47,405 million from the end of April. As of June 30, 2024, Japan’s reserve assets totaled $1,231,495 million.

 

Foreign Direct Investment

 

The following table sets forth information regarding annual foreign direct investment in Japan and annual foreign direct investment abroad for the periods indicated.

 

Foreign direct investment in Japan (by industry)(a)

 

   2019  2020  2021  2022  2023 
                 
   (in billions of yen) 
Manufacturing (total)(b)  ¥606.7  ¥258.2  ¥1,804.8  ¥1,615.0  ¥1,582.7 
Food   58.2   -43.9   28.3   -33.7   28.6 
Textile   2.7   4.2   6.5   11.2   8.5 
Lumber and pulp   2.3   0.9   8.6   2.6   1.5 
Chemicals and pharmaceuticals   120.9   90.8   1,586.9   447.1   493.3 
Petroleum   -93.7   6.6   5.2   -18.4   -0.3 
Rubber and leather      -0.6   -0.8   1.5   2.0 
Glass and ceramics   -17.3   25.4   -3.8   14.4   16.7 
Iron, non-ferrous, and metals   12.1   2.9   7.9   371.3   0.4 
General machinery   -53.0   20.9   -8.0   91.6   44.5 
Electric machinery   327.5   134.2   287.5   389.4   493.5 
Transportation equipment   244.0   27.9   -109.5   321.5   256.0 
Precision machinery   -10.1   5.5   -5.3   4.3   242.7 

 

25 

 

 

   2019  2020  2021  2022  2023 
                 
   (in billions of yen) 
Non-manufacturing (total)(c)   892.8   998.4   1,959.1   2,881.5   1,428.5 
Farming and forestry   0.5   0.3   0.4   0.5   0.5 
Fishery and marine products   0.9   1.2   1.1   3.7   2.6 
Mining   4.2   1.5   5.4   2.3   -10.8 
Construction   20.1   0.6   15.5   -12.5   -16.0 
Transportation   23.1   21.5   219.7   700.4   197.5 
Communications   -30.7   -38.5   369.7   503.3   42.6 
Wholesale and retail   -680.9   -72.2   -11.9   113.5   439.4 
Finance and insurance   1,301.1   955.2   1,177.5   1,157.4   749.3 
Real estate   32.7   -29.0   -69.8   -5.6   29.5 
Services   137.8   88.4   76.9   231.5   -5.0 
Total  ¥1,499.5  ¥1,256.5  ¥3,763.9  ¥4,496.5  ¥3,011.2 

 

 

(a)Starting with transactions recognized in January 2014, the BOJ began using the Sixth Edition of “Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual” (BPM6) released by International Monetary Fund in 2008 to calculate the data provided in this table.

 

(b)The total amounts for Manufacturing include other types of manufacturing not separately listed in the table and therefore are different from the sum of listed subcategories of manufacturing.

 

(c)The total amounts for Non-manufacturing include other industries not separately listed in the table and therefore are different from the sum of listed subcategories of Non-manufacturing industries.

 

Source: Outward / Inward Direct Investment, breakdown by Region and Industry, Ministry of Finance.

 

26 

 

 

 

Foreign direct investment in Japan (by region)(a)

 

    2019     2020     2021     2022     2023  
                               
    (in billions of yen)  
North America   ¥ 1,386.2     ¥ 498.6     ¥ 922.7     ¥ 1,809.6     ¥ 958.4  
Asia     553.3       527.6       2,095.4       1,371.0       1,141.7  
Europe     -688.2       274.2       214.4       741.3       730.5  
Other regions     248.0       -43.8       531.4       574.6       180.6  
Total   ¥ 1,499.5     ¥ 1,256.5     ¥ 3,763.9     ¥ 4,496.5     ¥ 3,011.2  

 

 

(a)Starting with transactions recognized in January 2014, the BOJ began using the Sixth Edition of “Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual” (BPM6) released by International Monetary Fund in 2008 to calculate the data provided in this table.

 

Source: Outward / Inward Direct Investment, breakdown by Region and Industry, Ministry of Finance.

 

Foreign direct investment abroad (by industry)(a)

 

    2019     2020     2021     2022     2023  
                               
    (in billions of yen)  
Manufacturing (total)(b)   ¥ 11,344.9     ¥ 1,703.6     ¥ 5,677.3     ¥ 7,157.6     ¥ 8,993.6  
Food     581.9       1,739.7       585.4       639.5       1,273.2  
Textile     70.7       41.7       38.2       27.7       83.8  
Lumber and pulp     138.7       251.3       105.1       195.0       237.8  
Chemicals and pharmaceuticals     4,593.9       -3,438.7       1,674.8       1,386.2       2,659.3  
Petroleum     20.5       25.6       52.1       37.1       40.0  
Rubber and leather     213.1       87.7       68.5       313.7       595.5  
Glass and ceramics     233.9       143.5       107.3       173.1       131.1  
Iron, non-ferrous, and metals     443.5       205.4       470.1       491.5       651.4  
General machinery     714.4       -217.7       770.6       1,129.1       825.9  
Electric machinery     1,391.7       1,405.9       873.5       741.8       1,025.7  
Transportation equipment     2,437.3       1,201.6       598.9       1,417.2       1,034.4  
Precision machinery     306.1       117.2       135.7       351.8       177.4  
Non-manufacturing (total)(c)     14,013.7       8,942.7       17,259.8       14,161.7       16,859.9  
Farming and forestry     6.2       39.7       16.8       62.3       43.5  
Fishery and marine products     3.7       0.3       -0.3       7.1       5.3  
Mining     1,060.1       267.4       1,114.5       1,765.9       2,320.1  
Construction     202.5       103.0       89.6       178.2       253.2  
Transportation     239.9       122.8       213.8       503.4       468.1  
Communications     636.0       -2,628.3       1,981.5       667.2       821.1  
Wholesale and retail     6,311.8       4,019.1       5,756.0       4,261.9       5,383.4  
Finance and insurance     4,018.4       5,496.3       6,327.9       4,286.7       4,134.5  
Real estate     1,173.6       226.6       527.3       547.5       1,300.5  
Services     -189.7       602.2       446.0       1,172.9       1,088.8  
Total   ¥ 25,358.6     ¥ 10,646.3     ¥ 22,937.1     ¥ 21,319.3     ¥ 25,853.5  

 

 

(a) Starting with transactions recognized in January 2014, the BOJ began using the Sixth Edition of “Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual” (BPM6) released by International Monetary Fund in 2008 to calculate the data provided in this table.

 

(b)The total amounts for Manufacturing include other types of manufacturing not separately listed in the table and therefore are different from the sum of listed subcategories of manufacturing.

 

(c)The total amounts for Non-manufacturing include other industries not separately listed in the table and therefore are different from the sum of listed subcategories of Non-manufacturing industries.

 

Source: Outward / Inward Direct Investment, breakdown by Region and Industry, Ministry of Finance.

 

27 

 

 

Foreign direct investment abroad (by region)(a)

 

    2019     2020     2021     2022     2023  
                               
    (in billions of yen)  
North America   ¥ 5,551.2     ¥ 5,986.6     ¥ 9,033.3     ¥ 8,724.8     ¥ 10,151.3  
Asia     5,540.7       3,395.8       6,602.3       4,501.8       4,163.0  
Europe     11,603.4       -1,357.3       5,524.7       4,520.8       6,746.4  
Other regions     2,663.3       2,621.2       1,776.7       3,571.9       4,792.8  
Total   ¥ 25,358.6     ¥ 10,646.3     ¥ 22,937.1     ¥ 21,319.3     ¥ 25,853.5  

 

 

(a)Starting with transactions recognized in January 2014, the BOJ began using the Sixth Edition of “Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual” (BPM6) released by International Monetary Fund in 2008 to calculate the data provided in this table.

 

Source: Outward / Inward Direct Investment, breakdown by Region and Industry, Ministry of Finance.

 

28 

 

 

FINANCIAL SYSTEM

 

The BOJ and Monetary Policy

 

The BOJ, with 55% of its capital owned by the government, is the central bank and sole issuing bank, as well as the depository and fiscal agent for the government. As of the end of March 2024, the BOJ had total assets of ¥756,423 billion.

 

In a statement released on March 19, 2024, noting that the price stability target of 2% would likely be achieved in a sustainable and stable manner toward the end of the projection period of the January 2024 Outlook Report, titled Outlook for Economic Activity and Prices, the BOJ announced that it would end its policy framework of quantitative and qualitative monetary easing (QQE) with yield curve control and the negative interest rate policy, and that it would conduct monetary policy as appropriate, guiding the short-term interest rate as a primary policy tool, in response to developments in economic activity and prices as well as financial conditions with the 2% price stability target. The BOJ noted that it would conduct market operations to encourage the uncollateralized overnight call rate to remain at around 0.0% to 0.1% by applying an interest rate of 0.1% to current account balances held by financial institutions at the BOJ (excluding required reserve balances). In addition, while continuing Japanese government bond purchases with broadly the same amounts as previous, the BOJ announced that it would discontinue purchases of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and Japanese real estate investment trusts (J-REITs). On April 26, 2024, the BOJ further announced that it would continue to conduct market operations to encourage the uncollateralized overnight call rate to remain at around 0.0% to 0.1% for the interim period until the next Monetary Policy Meeting.

 

The following table sets forth the principal economic indicators relating to monetary policy from 2019 through 2023.

 

   Current
Account
Balances
(a)
   Monetary Base   Money Stock   Loans and Bills
Discounts Domestically
Licensed Banks
 
       Total(a)   Annual %
Change
   Total(a)   Annual %
Change
   Total(a)   Annual %
Change
 
   (yen amounts in billions) 
2019   396,404    509,008    3.6    1,026,190    2.4    500,517    2.5 
2020   438,051    555,229    9.0    1,092,598    6.5    524,164    4.7 
2021   521,752    643,496    16.2    1,162,665    6.5    536,911    2.4 
2022   528,008    653,203    1.6    1,201,202    3.3    550,559    2.5 
2023   537,246    663,655    1.8    1,231,152    2.5    573,597    4.2 

 

 

(a)Average amounts outstanding.

 

Source: Bank of Japan Statistics, Bank of Japan.

 

Government Financial Institutions

 

The activities of private institutions are supplemented by a number of financial institutions under government supervision, the appointment of whose senior officials is subject to approval by the government and whose funds are supplied principally or partially by the government. Among these are Japan Finance Corporation (“JFC”), the successor to National Life Finance Corporation (“NLFC”), Japan Finance Corporation for Small and Medium Enterprise (“JASME”), and Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Finance Corporation (“AFC”), whose main purposes are to contribute to the improvement of the quality of the national life. They also include Japan Bank for International Cooperation (“JBIC”) and The Okinawa Development Finance Corporation, whose purposes are to supplement private financing in their respective fields of activity, and Development Bank of Japan Inc. (“DBJ”) and The Shoko Chukin Bank Ltd., which will be privatized.

 

The central government has been steadily promoting reform of governmental financial institutions. The “Outline of Administrative Reforms” decided by the Cabinet on December 1, 2000, requires that the businesses and organizational forms of all special public institutions, which include governmental financial institutions, undergo a thorough review. Pursuant to the Act on Promotion of Administrative Reform for Realization of Small and Efficient Government, which was enacted on May 26, 2006, (1) the former Development Bank of Japan was succeeded to by DBJ as of October 1, 2008, which is currently wholly owned by the Japanese government and will be privatized as well as The Shoko Chukin Bank Ltd., (2) the international financial operations of JBIC, together with the functions of NLFC, JASME, AFC were transferred to JFC as of October 1, 2008, and the overseas economic cooperation operations of JBIC were transferred to the Japan International Cooperation Agency, and (3) as of October 1, 2008, Japan Finance Corporation for Municipal Enterprises was succeeded by Japan Finance Organization for Municipalities, which is funded by local governments. Each of these measures was implemented through individual laws that were enacted in 2007, pursuant to which these successor institutions were formed on October 1, 2008.

 

29 

 

 

With regard to (1) above, as originally enacted, the Development Bank of Japan Inc. Act (Act No. 85 of 2007), as amended (the “DBJ Act”), contemplated full privatization of DBJ over a period of five to seven years from its establishment on October 1, 2008. During that period, the DBJ Act (as originally enacted) provided that the Japanese government would dispose of all of the common stock of DBJ (the “full privatization”), and that steps would be taken to abolish this act promptly after the full privatization. On June 26, 2009, the Japanese Diet approved the Act for Partial Amendment of the Development Bank of Japan Inc. Act (Act No. 67 of 2009) (the “2009 Amendment Act”), which, as part of the Japanese government’s response to economic and financial crises, enables the Japanese government to strengthen DBJ’s financial base through capital injections up to the end of March 2012. In addition, under the 2009 Amendment Act, the targeted timing for the full privatization of DBJ had been extended to approximately five to seven years from April 1, 2012. Further, the 2009 Amendment Act provided that the Japanese government was to review the organization of DBJ, including whether the Japanese government should keep holding the DBJ shares, by the end of fiscal year 2011, and until then, the Japanese government should not be disposing of the DBJ’s shares. Additionally, on May 2, 2011, in order to address the Earthquake, the Japanese Diet approved the Act for Extraordinary Expenditure and Assistance to Cope with the Great East Earthquake (Act No. 40 of 2011) (the “Extraordinary Expenditure Act”). The Extraordinary Expenditure Act enabled the Japanese government to strengthen DBJ’s financial base through capital injection by March 2015 so that DBJ could smoothly implement its crisis response operations. In addition, under Extraordinary Expenditure Act, the targeted timing for the full privatization of DBJ had been extended to approximately five to seven years from April 1, 2015. Further, the Extraordinary Expenditure Act provided that the Japanese government was to review the organization of DBJ, including whether the Japanese government should keep holding the DBJ’s shares by the end of fiscal year 2014, and until such time, the Japanese government shall not dispose of the DBJ’s shares. On May 13, 2015, the Japanese Diet approved the Act for Partial Amendment of the Development Bank of Japan Inc. Act (Act No. 23 of 2015) (the “2015 Amendment Act”), under which the specific targeted timing for the full privatization of DBJ was withdrawn, taking into consideration the current business environment in the private financial sector. The 2015 Amendment Act allowed DBJ to take actions necessary for implementation of the crisis response operations and supply of growth capital by utilizing its investment and loan functions — that is, DBJ would take possible measures to supply funds to deal with large-scale disasters, economic crises and so forth, and to promote the supply of growth capital to revitalize regional economies and to reinforce the competitiveness of enterprises. In order to assure implementation of the necessary operations, under the 2015 Amendment Act, the Japanese government shall maintain its stake in excess of one-third for DBJ’s crisis response operations, and one half or more for DBJ’s special investment operations, for as long as the government shall take such measures. Furthermore, on May 22, 2020, the Act for Partial Amendment of the Development Bank of Japan Inc. Act (Act No. 29 of 2020) was promulgated, under which the duration of DBJ’s special investment operations has been extended by five years.

 

With regard to (2) above, The Japan Bank for International Cooperation Act (the “JBIC Act”) was passed into law on April 28, 2011 to spin off the Japan Bank for International Cooperation Operations from the domestic financial operations of the Japan Finance Corporation. Pursuant to the JBIC Act, Japan Bank for International Cooperation was newly established on April 1, 2012.

 

Private Financial Institutions

 

According to the Financial Services Agency, as of May 1, 2024, the private banking system included four city banks, 13 trust banks, and 17 other banks, as well as 62 1st local banks as of May 1, 2021, 37 2nd local banks as of May 1, 2021 and the Saitama Resona Bank, which is categorized as neither a 1st nor 2nd local bank. In addition, 56 foreign banks had branches in Japan as of August 7, 2023.

 

There are also credit associations, credit cooperative associations, labor credit associations and the national federations of each of such associations, which are engaged mainly in making small business loans. Agricultural cooperatives, prefectural credit federations of such cooperatives and The Norinchukin Bank operate in the field of agricultural credit.

 

30 

 

 

 

GOVERNMENT FINANCE

 

Revenues, Expenditures and Budgets

 

The responsibility for the preparation of the budget and the administration of government finances rests with the Ministry of Finance. The fiscal year commences on April 1, and the Cabinet usually submits the budget to the Diet for its decision in January of the same year. Supplementary budgets revising the original budget may be submitted to the Diet from time to time during the fiscal year.

 

The fiscal and financial operations of the government and its agencies are budgeted and recorded in the following three sets of accounts:

 

·General Account.    The general account is used primarily to record operations in basic areas of governmental activity.

 

·Special Accounts.    The accounts of the central government consist of the general account and special accounts. Special accounts can be set up to carry out specific projects, to manage specific funds, and for other purposes. Special accounts can be set up when the government (i) implements a specific program such as insurance and public works, (ii) possesses and manages special funds such as Fiscal Loan Program Funds and Foreign Exchange Funds, and (iii) uses a certain revenue to secure a special expenditure and thus needs to deal with such revenue and expenditure on a separate basis from the general revenue and expenditure such as Local Allocation and Local Transfer Tax and Government Bonds Consolidation Funds. As of September 2023, the government had 13 special accounts.

 

·Government-Affiliated Agencies.    The government-affiliated agencies are fully-government-funded corporations established by the law which budget would be discussed in the Diet.

 

31 

 

 

The settlement of accounts for revenues and expenditures is made by the Ministry of Finance, based on reports submitted by the respective Ministers. The settlement of accounts is required by law to be audited annually in detail by the Board of Audit, an organ independent of the Cabinet, and submitted by the Cabinet to the Diet in the following fiscal year.

 

The following tables set forth information with respect to the General Account, the Special Accounts and the Government Affiliated Agencies for JFY 2018 through JFY 2023, and the initial budget for JFY 2024.

 

Summary of Consolidated General and Special Accounts(a)

 

    JFY
2018
    JFY
2019
 
    JFY
2020
    JFY
2021
    JFY
2022
    JFY 2023
(Provisional
results as of
December 31,
2023)
    JFY 2024
Initial
Budget
 
                                           
    (in billions of yen)  
REVENUES                                          
Total Revenues, General Account   ¥ 105,697     ¥ 109,162     ¥ 184,579     ¥ 169,403     ¥ 153,729     ¥ 145,543     ¥ 112,572  
Total Revenues, Special Accounts     381,177       386,552       417,561       455,554       447,892       441,227       440,610  
Less: Inter-Account Transactions(b)     243,007       244,423       248,863       302,306       296,356       302,490       291,915  
Total Consolidated Revenues   ¥ 243,868     ¥ 251,292     ¥ 353,277     ¥ 322,651     ¥ 305,266     ¥ 284,280     ¥ 261,267  
                                                         
EXPENDITURES                                                        
Total Expenditures, General Account   ¥ 98,975     ¥ 101,366     ¥ 147,597     ¥ 144,650     ¥ 132,386     ¥ 144,261     ¥ 112,572  
Total Expenditures, Special Accounts     368,936       374,170       404,519       441,081       432,354       432,679       436,036  
Less: Inter-Account Transactions(b)     241,249       242,631       246,270       300,383       294,929       299,653       289,900  
Total Consolidated Expenditures   ¥ 226,661     ¥ 232,905     ¥ 305,846     ¥ 285,348     ¥ 269,810     ¥ 277,287     ¥ 258,708  
Surplus of Consolidated Revenues over Consolidated Expenditures   ¥ 17,206     ¥ 18,387     ¥ 47,431     ¥ 37,303     ¥ 35,456     ¥ 6,993     ¥ 2,559  

 

 

(a)Because of the manner in which the government accounts are kept, it is not practicable to show a consolidation of the Government Affiliated Agencies with the General and Special Accounts.

 

(b)Inter-Account Transactions include transfers between the General Account and the Special Accounts, transfers between the Special Accounts, and transfers between sub- accounts of the Special Accounts.

 

Source: Budget, Ministry of Finance.

 

32 

 

 

General Account

 

   JFY
2018
   JFY
2019
   JFY
2020
   JFY
2021
   JFY
2022
   JFY 2023
Revised
Budget
(a)
   JFY 2024
Initial
Budget
 
                             
   (in billions of yen) 
REVENUES                                   
Tax and Stamp Revenues  ¥60,356   ¥58,442   ¥60,822   ¥67,038   ¥71,137   ¥69,611   ¥69,608 
Carried-over Surplus   5,528    6,723    7,796    36,981    24,754    3,391     
Government Bond Issues   34,395    36,582    108,554    57,655    50,479    44,498    35,449 
Income from Operations   51    51    46    61    60    51    55 
Gains from Deposition of Assets   268    226    293    319    369    691    229 
Miscellaneous Receipts   5,098    7,139    7,068    7,349    6,930    9,339    7,230 
Total Revenues  ¥105,697   ¥109,162   ¥184,579   ¥169,403   ¥153,729   ¥127,580   ¥112,572 
                                    
EXPENDITURES                                   
Local Allocation Tax Grants, etc.  ¥16,026   ¥16,032   ¥16,256   ¥19,558   ¥17,513   ¥17,181   ¥17,786 
National Debt Service   22,529    22,286    22,326    24,589    23,870    25,675    27,009 
Social Security   32,569    33,501    42,998    50,161    43,868    38,134    37,719 
Public Works   6,913    7,610    8,413    8,600    8,126    8,313    6,083 
Education and Science   5,748    5,911    9,194    7,956    8,669    8,507    5,472 
National Defense   5,475    5,627    5,505    6,014    5,529    12,019    7,917 
Former Military Personnel Pensions   241    202    169    140    113    97    77 
Economic Assistance   642    653    763    669    900    793    504 
Food Supply   1,122    1,121    1,498    1,772    1,947    1,701    1,262 
Energy   973    1,049    1,027    1,267    2,001    1,028    833 
Promotion of SMEs   525    779    16,257    9,944    3,396    735    169 
Miscellaneous   6,212    6,596    23,190    13,980    16,453    10,397    5,740 
Contingency funds for measures to address soaring crude oil and commodity prices and to set up environment for promoting wage increases                       2,000    1,000 
Contingency funds for Economic Emergency including the impact from the Ukraine crisis                       500     
Contingencies                       500    1,000 
Total Expenditures  ¥98,975   ¥101,366   ¥147,597   ¥144,650   ¥132,386   ¥127,580   ¥112,572 
Surplus of Revenues over Expenditures  ¥6,723   ¥7,796   ¥36,981   ¥24,754   ¥21,344   ¥   ¥ 

 

 

(a) As of the date of this Annual Report on Form 18-K, details for the provisional results for JFY 2023 General Accounts are not available. Reflect the revised budget for JFY 2023 approved by the Diet on November 29, 2023.

 

Source: Budget, Ministry of Finance.

 

33 

 

 

Special Accounts

 

    JFY
2018
    JFY
2019
    JFY
2020
    JFY
2021
    JFY
2022
    JFY 2023
Revised Budget(a)
    JFY 2024
Initial Budget
 
    Rev.     Exp.     Rev.     Exp.     Rev.     Exp.     Rev.     Exp.     Rev.     Exp.     Rev.     Exp.     Rev.     Exp.  
                                                                                     
    (in billions of yen)  
Fiscal Investment and Loan Program   ¥ 26,070     ¥ 25,175     ¥ 28,484     ¥ 27,873     ¥ 52,366     ¥ 51,967     ¥ 35,860     ¥ 35,346     ¥ 34,069     ¥ 33,378     ¥ 16,428     ¥ 16,272     ¥ 26,685     ¥ 26,641  
Government Bonds Consolidation Fund     186,158       183,082       186,970       183,878       188,973       185,921       239,702       236,623       235,623       232,556       236,005       236,005       225,139       225,139  
Foreign Exchange Fund     3,101       85       3,599       160       3,133       234       2,475       177       3,590       114       2,988       2,419       4,463       1,317  
Local Allocation and Local Transfer Tax     52,483       51,596       51,985       51,488       51,978       50,829       55,326       53,632       53,624       51,778       52,349       50,707       52,574       51,867  
Measure for Energy     10,613       10,158       10,887       10,377       11,155       10,618       11,649       10,914       11,893       11,021       15,397       15,397       15,996       15,996  
Pensions     91,700       89,464       93,209       90,919       94,591       91,804       96,376       92,725       97,191       92,929       99,597       99,597       103,218       103,218  
Stable Supply of Foodstuff     970       814       968       851       926       821       980       913       1,254       1,151       1,519       1,516       1,537       1,516  
Debt Management of National Forest and Field Service     349       349       356       356       363       363       360       360       353       353       343       343       340       340  
Automobile Safety     672       451       684       500       651       434       559       395       569       426       523       458       523       460  
Labor Insurance     6,073       5,735       6,371       5,928       10,589       9,519       10,486       8,610       8,289       7,536       8,952       8,657       9,151       8,642  
Reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake     2,532       1,868       2,587       1,677       2,498       1,854       1,430       1,112       1,114       894       798       798       633       633  
Others     456       158       452       164       338       153       353       273       323       217       327       254       350       265  
Total Revenues and Expenditures(b)   ¥ 381,177     ¥ 368,936     ¥ 386,552     ¥ 374,170     ¥ 417,561     ¥ 404,519     ¥ 455,554     ¥ 441,081     ¥ 447,892     ¥ 432,354     ¥ 435,226     ¥ 432,424     ¥ 440,610     ¥ 436,036  

 

 

(a)As of the date of this Annual Report on Form 18-K, details for the provisional results for JFY 2023 Special Accounts are not available. Reflect the revised budget for JFY 2023 approved by the Diet on November 29, 2023.

 

(b)Without adjustment for inter-account transactions. Total Revenues and Expenditures may differ from the actual totals of the listed accounts due to rounding.

 

Source: Budget, Ministry of Finance.

 

34 

 

 

Government Affiliated Agencies

 

      JFY
2018
    JFY
2019
    JFY
2020
    JFY
2021
    JFY
2022
 
    JFY 2023
Revised Budget
(a)
    JFY 2024
Initial Budget
 
      Rev.     Exp.     Rev.     Exp.     Rev.     Exp.     Rev.     Exp.     Rev.     Exp.     Rev.     Exp.     Rev.     Exp.  
                                                                                       
      (in billions of yen)  
  Total     ¥ 1,231     ¥ 1,064     ¥ 1,265     ¥ 1,064     ¥ 1,096     ¥ 804     ¥ 996     ¥ 665     ¥ 1,269     ¥ 1,024     ¥ 2,234     ¥ 2,646     ¥ 2,715     ¥ 3,061  

 

 

(a)There were no revisions to the relevant information for Government Affiliated Agencies in the first revised budget for JFY 2023 approved by the Diet on November 29, 2023. As of the date of this Annual Report on Form 18-K, details for the provisional results for JFY 2023 Government Affiliated Agencies are not available.

 

Source: Budget, Ministry of Finance.

 

35 

 

 

 

Tax Structure

 

The central government derives tax revenues (including stamp revenues) through taxes on income, consumption and property, etc. The taxes on income, consumption and property (including stamp revenues, etc.) account for 52.8%, 41.4% and 5.8%, respectively, of the total central government taxes and stamp revenues in the JFY 2024 initial national budget.

 

The individual national income tax is progressive, with rates currently ranging from 5% to 45% of taxable income, and the local taxes are a 10% single rate. Interest income is generally taxed at the rate of 20.315%, including both national and local taxes, separately from other types of income, and subject to certain exemptions. The statutory national corporate income tax rate was reduced from 23.4% in JFY 2016 to 23.2% in JFY 2018, except that, for small and medium corporations, the first ¥8 million of income is taxed at 15%. In addition, corporations are subject to local income taxation. The effective corporate income tax rate (national and local) was reduced from 29.97% in JFY 2016 to 29.74% in JFY 2018.

 

Comprehensive Reform of Social Security and Tax. Japan’s fiscal conditions face challenges, with its tax revenues covering about 62% of its revenues under the initial budget for JFY 2024, and with the ratio of long-term debt outstanding of central and local governments to gross domestic product having reached 219% at the end of JFY 2022. The ratio of long-term debt outstanding of central and local governments to gross domestic product is expected to be decreased to 215% at the end of JFY 2023 and 214 % at the end of JFY 2024. See also “Japan’s Public Debt” below. The Government of Japan seeks to tackle these fiscal challenges through the “comprehensive reform of social security and tax”, which was approved by the Diet in August 2012, and thereby maintain the market’s and the international community’s confidence in Japan and build the foundation for stable economic growth. In the reform, the government planned to set aside consumption tax revenues for social security payments, and, on the condition that the economic situation improves, gradually increase the consumption tax rate to 8% in April 2014 and to 10% in October 2015. In accordance with the plan, the consumption tax rate was increased to 8% in April 2014. However, the government decided to postpone the implementation date of the further consumption tax hike to 10% from October 1, 2015 to April 1, 2017, as a result of taking comprehensive account of the economic condition and other factors, and on June 1, 2016, the then current Japan Prime Minister, ABE Shinzo announced a plan to further postpone the consumption tax hike to 10% from April 1, 2017, to October 1, 2019. The consumption tax rate has been increased to 10% since October 1, 2019.

 

Fiscal Investment and Loan Program

 

The Fiscal Investment and Loan Program (the “FILP”) plan is formulated at the same pace as the General Account budget. The FILP plan details the allocation of public funds to various special accounts, government affiliated agencies, local governments, public corporations and other public institutions.

 

Under the FILP plan, funds are supplied to government-related entities such as public corporations, government affiliated agencies, special accounts and local governments. The total amount of the initial plan for JFY 2024 is ¥13,338 billion. The sources of funds for the initial plan in JFY 2024 are Fiscal Loan (¥10,287 billion), Industrial Investment (¥475 billion), Government-Guaranteed domestic bonds (¥1,603 billion), Government-Guaranteed foreign bonds (¥933 billion) and Government-Guaranteed long-term borrowings in foreign currencies (¥40 billion). The Fiscal Loan utilizes the Fiscal Loan Fund consisting of funds procured through the issuance of FILP bonds and reserves or surplus funds deposited from government special accounts to provide long-term, fixed and low-interest loans to such entities as special government accounts, local governments, government-affiliated agencies and incorporated administrative agencies.

 

The following table (the “FILP Classification Table by Purpose”) shows the uses of funds allocated under the initial plan for the periods indicated.

 

(Note)The FILP Classification Table by Purpose has been prepared and published to specify fields where FILP contributes to the national economy or livelihood. Classification of the table had been almost the same from JFY 1961 to JFY 2014. However, since the classification became to be inappropriate for reflecting realities of recent FILP-target projects, it was revised in JFY 2015 by sorting out the classification or putting some classifications together.

 

36 

 

 

Old classification  JFY 2011   JFY 2012   JFY 2013   JFY 2014 
                 
    (in billions) 
Housing  ¥578   ¥923   ¥929   ¥942 
Living environment   2,725    2,713    2,805    2,306 
Social welfare   550    743    703    920 
Education   1,176    1,232    1,522    1,278 
Small and medium enterprises   3,627    4,323    4,197    3,861 
Agriculture, forestry and fisheries   345    373    407    476 
National land conservation/disaster recovery   180    645    348    477 
Road construction   2,248    2,813    2,939    2,270 
Transportation/communications   408    384    519    629 
Regional development   467    447    372    259 
Industry/technology   625    2,015    2,005    1,448 
Trade/economic cooperation   1,978    1,039    1,644    1,313 
Total  ¥14,906   ¥17,648   ¥18,390   ¥16,180 

 

New classification  JFY 2014   JFY 2015   JFY 2016   JFY 2017   JFY 2018   JFY 2019 
                         
    (in billions) 
SMEs and micro enterprises  ¥3,750   ¥3,448   ¥3,182   ¥2,969   ¥2,912   ¥2,997 
Agriculture, forestry and fisheries   318    280    322    339    573    604 
Education   1,134    1,038    1,055    932    943    930 
Welfare/medical care   772    773    811    670    627    541 
Environment   50    61    61    64    61    33 
Industry/innovation   834    939    864    822    919    1,019 
Housing   849    742    621    541    461    546 
Social capital   4,467    3,999    3,087    5,093    4,761    3,745 
Overseas investment and loans   1,547    1,378    2,000    2,455    2,003    1,857 
Others   2,460    1,964    1,477    1,243    1,204    849 
Total  ¥16,180   ¥14,622   ¥13,481   ¥15,128   ¥14,463   ¥13,119 

 

New classification  JFY 2020   JFY 2021   JFY 2022   JFY 2023   JFY 2024 
                     
    (in billions) 
SMEs and micro enterprises  ¥2,903   ¥14,521   ¥3,567   ¥4,972   ¥2,965 
Agriculture, forestry and fisheries   590    759    699    796    772 
Education   898    4,859    5,671    805    823 
Welfare/medical care   477    2,042    1,044    436    442 
Environment   54    57    93    101    93 
Industry/innovation   1,166    1,213    1,009    1,052    1,134 
Housing   521    792    815    768    808 
Social capital   3,752    3,065    2,634    2,921    2,743 
Overseas investment and loans   2,039    2,029    2,472    3,543    2,993 
Others   821    11,568    884    875    563 
Total  ¥13,220   ¥40,906   ¥18,886   ¥16,269   ¥13,338 

 

37 

 

 

DEBT RECORD

 

There has been no default in the payment of interest or principal of any internal Japanese government obligation since the establishment of the modern Japanese state in 1868 or of any external Japanese government obligation within a period of 20 years prior hereto.

 

JAPAN’S PUBLIC DEBT

 

The following table summarizes, as of the dates indicated, the outstanding direct internal and external funded and floating debt of Japan. The term “floating debt” is used herein to mean all debt with maturities of one year or less from the date of issue. All other debt is classified as “funded debt.” Detailed debt tables are presented below.

 

Outstanding General Bonds are expected to reach ¥1,105 trillion at the end of JFY 2024. The amount of public bonds issued by the Japanese government as a percentage of its general account total revenues was 34.9% under the revised budget for JFY 2023 (reflecting the first supplementary budget approved on November 29, 2023) and 31.5% under the initial budget for JFY 2024. The amount of General Bond issuances in the JFY 2024 initial budget is ¥35,449 billion and is less than the JFY 2023 revised budget level of ¥44,498 billion.

 

Summary of Japan’s Public Debt

 

      Funded     Floating  
At the end of JFY     Internal     External     Internal  
      (in billions)     (in thousands)     (in billions)  
2019       965,926             148,614  
2020       993,542             222,921  
2021       1,037,735             203,572  
2022       1,072,905             197,594  
2023       1,107,223             189,182  
                      $ 5  

 

As of March 31, 2024 Japan had guaranteed payment of principal and interest of various internal yen obligations in the aggregate principal amount of ¥19,915 billion and of various external obligations aggregating the equivalent of ¥8,698 billion.

 

The following table sets forth the aggregate annual payments of principal in respect of the direct internal funded debt of Japan outstanding as of March 31, 2024 for the periods indicated.

 

Principal Payments on Direct Funded Debt of Japan

 

JFY   Internal 
    (in billions) 
2024   ¥111,814 
2025    117,955 
2026    83,159 
2027    84,058 
2028 to 2062    710,195 
Total   ¥1,107,182 

 

38 

 

 

INTERNAL DEBT

 

Direct Debt of the Japanese Government

 

Funded Debt

 

Title and Interest Rate  Year of Issue   Year of Maturity   Principal Amounts
Outstanding as of
March 31, 2024
(in millions)
 
1. Bonds               
Interest-Bearing Treasury Bond — 40 years, 16 Series (0.4-2.4%)   2007-2024    2048-2063   ¥45,406,573 
Interest-Bearing Treasury Bond — 30 years, 81Series (0.3-2.9%)   1999-2024    2029-2053    177,677,442 
Interest-Bearing Treasury Bond — 20 years, 118Series (0.2-2.4%)   2004-2024    2024-2043    305,062,042 
Interest-Bearing Treasury Bond — 10 years, 40 Series (0.1-0.8%)   2014-2024    2024-2033    325,247,305 
Interest-Bearing Treasury Bond for Individual Investors — 10 years, 120 Series (variable rate)    2014-2024    2024-2034    10,785,094 
Inflation-Indexed Bonds —10 years, 10 Series (0.005-0.2%)   2014-2024    2024-2033    12,321,931 
Japan Climate Transition Bond— 10 years,1 Series (0.7%)   2024    2033    799,500 
Interest-Bearing Treasury Bond — 5 years, 27 Series (0.005-0.4%)   2019-2024    2024-2028    144,683,347 
Interest-Bearing Treasury Bond for Individual Investors — 5 years, 60 Series (0.05-0.42%)   2019-2024    2024-2029    1,403,087 
Japan Climate Transition Bond— 5 years,1 Series (0.3%)   2024    2028    799,800 
Interest-Bearing Treasury Bond for Individual Investors — 3 years, 36 Series (0.05-0.19%)   2021-2024    2024-2027    1,124,167 
Interest-Bearing Treasury Bond — 2 years, 24 Series (0.005-0.2%)   2022-2024    2024-2026    72,241,612 
6% Bereaved Family Treasury Bond, 8 Series   2015-2022    2024-2031    1 
6% Repatriation Treasury Bond, 1 Series   2014    2024    0 
Non-interest Special Benefit Treasury Bond IV, 1 Series   2016    2026    1 
Non-interest Special Benefit Treasury Bond X, 1 Series   2016    2026    3 
Non-interest Special Benefit Treasury Bond XIII, 1 Series   2021    2026    25 
Non-interest Special Benefit Treasury Bond XVII, 1 Series   2016    2026    36 
Non-interest Special Benefit Treasury Bond XXII, 4 Series(a)   2014-2017    2024-2027    165 

 

39 

 

 

Title and Interest Rate  Year of Issue   Year of Maturity   Principal Amounts
Outstanding as of
March 31, 2024
(in millions)
 
Non-interest Special Benefit Treasury Bond XXVII, 7 Series(a)   2014-2022    2024-2032    941 
Non-interest Special Benefit Treasury Bond XXIX, 1 Series   2021    2026    107 
Non-interest Treasury Bond for Special Condolence XI, 1 Series   2020    2025    76,021 
Non-interest Special Benefit Treasury Bond XXX, 1 Series(a)   2023    2028    2,606 
Total Bonds            ¥1,097,631,805 
2. Borrowings               
Former Temporary Military Expenditure(b)   1943-1945        ¥41,422 
Allotment of Local Allocation and Local Transfer Tax   2007    2037    7,590,459 
Former National Centers for Advanced and Specialized Medical Care   2010    2025-2035    11,949 
Special Account for Energy Policy (0.01-0.9 %)   2011-2024    2024-2038    80,546 
Special Account for Stable Food Supply (0.01-0.9%)   2012-2024    2025-2037    23,964 
Special Account for National Forest Debt Management (0.0-0.299%)   1996-2024    2024-2033    1,088,240 
Special Account for Motor Vehicle Safety (0.0-0.8%)   2004-2024    2024-2041    754,820 
Total Borrowings            ¥9,591,399 
Total Direct Internal Funded Debt            ¥1,107,223,204 

 

 

(a)The amounts outstanding for Non-interest Special Benefit Treasury Bond XXII, 4 Series and for Non-interest Special Benefit Treasury Bond XXVII, 7 Series are higher than the amounts outstanding for the other Non-interest Special Benefit Treasury Bond series listed in this table because these bonds relate to “special benefit for the wives of the war dead, etc.”, for which benefit payments are high compared to other special benefits.

 

(b)Represents borrowings by the government from special corporations of currencies of areas under Japanese control during World War II. The maturity of such borrowings and other matters relating to such borrowings remain undetermined.

 

40 

 

 

 

Floating Debt

 

Title  Interest   Year of
Maturity
   Principal Amounts
Outstanding as of
March 31, 2024
(in millions)
 
1. Bonds             
Treasury Discount Bills             
Food Financing Bills  Non-interest bearing   2024    173,000 
Foreign Exchange Fund Financing Bills  Non-interest bearing   2024    90,165,920 
Petroleum Financing Bills  Non-interest bearing   2024    1,160,400 
Treasury Bills, 19 Series  Non-interest bearing   2024-2025    50,699,590 
Note in Substitution for Currency of the International Monetary Fund  Non-interest bearing   Payable on demand    4,085,050 
Note in Substitution for Currency of the International Development Association  Non-interest bearing   Payable on demand    17,944 
Note for Contribution to the Special Funds of the Asian Development Bank  Non-interest bearing   Payable on demand    16,863 
Note in Substitution for Currency of the African Development Fund  Non-interest bearing   Payable on demand    63,952 
Note in Substitution for Currency of the International Fund for Agricultural Development  Non-interest bearing   Payable on demand    3,042 
Note in Substitution for Currency of the Global Environment Facility Trust Fund of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development  Non-interest bearing   Payable on demand    42,444 
Note in Substitution for Currency of the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency  Non-interest bearing   Payable on demand    721 
Note in Substitution for Currency of the Green Climate Fund  Non-interest bearing   Payable on demand    63,200 
Government Bonds issued to Development Bank of Japan  Non-interest bearing   Payable on demand    1,324,665 
Government Bonds issued to Nuclear Damage Liability Facilitation Fund  Non-interest bearing   Payable on demand    2,395,400 
              
           (in USD millions) 
Demand Note for Contributions to the Advancing Needed Credit Enhancement for Ukraine Trust Fund  Non-interest bearing   Payable on demand   $5,000 
Total Bonds          ¥150,212,190 
           $ 5,000 
2. Borrowings             
Special Account for Local Allocation Tax  0.000-0.4%  2024   ¥28,612,295 
Special Account of Pension  0.4%  2024    1,434,835 
Special Account for Energy Policy  0.000-0.155%  2024-2025    8,557,634 
Total Borrowings          ¥38,604,764 
Total Direct Internal Floating Debt          ¥189,182,063 
           $ 5,000 
Total Direct Internal Debt          ¥1,296,405,267 
           $5,000 

 

41 

 

 

Debt Guaranteed by the Japanese Government

 

Title  Interest   Year of Issue   Year of
Maturity
   Principal Amounts
Outstanding as of
March 31, 2024
(in millions)
 
1. Bonds Issued by Government-Affiliated Corporations                    
                     
Japan Finance Corporation   0.001-0.544%    2014-2021    2024-2031   ¥435,000 
Japan Expressway Holding and Debt Repayment Agency   0.001-2.700%    2006-2024    2024-2061    11,232,500 
Japan Housing Finance Agency   0.001-1.628%    2021-2024    2026-2044    690,000 
New Kansai International Airport Co., Ltd.   0.105-2.400%    2007-2019    2024-2029    160,100 
Development Bank of Japan   0.001-1.245%    2014-2024    2024-2062    985,000 
Deposit Insurance Corporation of Japan   0.001-0.100%    2020-2023    2024-2025    650,000 
Nuclear Damage Compensation and Decommissioning Facilitation Corporation   0.001-0.225%    2021-2023    2024-2026    800,000 
Private Finance Initiative Promotion Corporation of Japan   0.001-0.145%    2017-2021    2026-2027    88,000 
Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corporation for Transport & Urban Development   0.695%   2023    2033    5,000 
Fund Corporation for the Overseas Development of Japan’s ICT and Postal Services Inc.   0.110-0.504%    2021-2022    2031-2032    20,000 
Organization for Promoting Urban Development   0.020-1.517%    2016-2023    2026-2043    120,800 
Central Japan International Airport Co., Ltd.   0.001-0.787%    2015-2024    2025-2042    151,800 
Japan Finance Organization for Municipalities   0.001-0.669%    2014-2021    2024-2030    2,475,000 
                     
Total                 ¥17,813,200 
                     
2. Borrowings of Government-Affiliated Corporations                    
                     
Incorporated Administrative Agency — Farmers Pension Fund   0-0.069%    2023-2024    2024-2025   ¥159,400 
Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security   0-0.050%    2023-2024    2024-2025    934,133 
Deposit Insurance Corporation of Japan   0-0.131%    2023-2024    2024-2025    74,000 
Japan Investment Corporation   0.001%   2023    2024    600,000 
Nuclear Damage Compensation and Decommissioning Facilitation Corporation   0%  2023    2024    200,000 
The Corporation for Revitalizing Earthquake-Affected Business   0%  2023    2024    9,800 
Organization for Cross-regional Coordination of Transmission Operators,Japan   0.220%    2024    2025    120,000 
Organization for Promoting Urban Development   0%   2021    2025    4,900 
Total                 ¥2,102,233 
Total Internal Debt Guaranteed by the Japanese Government                 ¥19,915,433 

 

42 

 

 

EXTERNAL DEBT

 

Debt Guaranteed by the Japanese Government

 

   Interest   Year of Loan   Year of  
Maturity
   Principal Amounts
Outstanding as of
March 31, 2024
(in thousands)
 
Japan Bank for International Cooperation   0.500-4.875%    2014-2024    2024-2031   $41,300,000 
    0.375%   2021    2026   £250,000 
    1.500-3.125%    2022-2023    2028-2029   2,000,000 
Japan International Cooperation Agency   1.000-4.000%    2016-2023    2026-2031   $4,730,000 
Development Bank of Japan   0.500-4.500%    2014-2024    2024-2034   $12,650,000 
    3.125-4.750%    2007-2023    2027-2028   1,700,000 
    1.810-2.300%    1998-2006    2026-2028   ¥100,000,000 
                     
Totals by currency                 $60,430,000 
                  £250,000 
                  2,700,000 
                  ¥100,000,000 

 

43 

 

 

SUBSCRIPTIONS TO INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL ORGANIZATIONS

 

The following table sets forth information relating to Japan’s obligations to contribute to the capital and financing requirements of international financing organizations in which it participates as of March 31, 2024.

 

Organization  Subscription
Amount
 
   (in USD millions) 
International Monetary Fund  $40,964(a) 
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development  $24,113(b) 
International Development Association  $51,927(c) 
International Finance Corporation  $1,800(d) 
Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency  $97(e) 
Asian Development Bank  $22,227(f) 
Inter-American Development Bank  $8,878(g) 
Multilateral Investment Fund  $655(h) 
Inter-American Investment Corporation  $94(i) 
African Development Bank  $10,588(j) 
African Development Fund  $4,901(k) 
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development  2,557(l) 
International Fund for Agricultural Development  $642(m) 

 

 

(a)Equivalent of SDR 30,820.5 million and 1SDR=1.329130 USD as of July 17, 2024.

 

(b)As stated in IBRD Financial Statements as of June 30, 2023.

 

(c)As stated in IDA Financial Statements as of June 30, 2023.

 

(d)As stated in IFC Financial Statements as of June 30, 2023.

 

(e)As stated in MIGA Financial Statements as of June 30, 2023.

 

(f)As stated in ADB Financial Statements as of December 31, 2023.

 

(g)As stated in IDB Financial Statements as of December 31, 2023.

 

(h)As stated in MIF Financial Statements as of December 31, 2023.

 

(i)As stated in IIC Financial Statements as of December 31, 2023.

 

(j)As stated in AfDB Financial Statements as of December 31, 2023. Equivalent of UA 7,892 million.

 

(k)As stated in AfDF Financial Statements as of December 31, 2023. Equivalent of UA 3,653 million.

 

(l)As stated in EBRD Financial Statements as of December 31, 2023.

 

(m)As stated in IFAD Financial Statements as of December 31, 2023.

 

44