Author: Tobias S. Harris

Tobias Harris is Japan analyst at Teneo Intelligence. He is the author of a forthcoming biography of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Harris quoted in the Sydney Morning Herald

by Tobias S. Harris

Tobias Harris spoke with Eryk Bagshaw of the Sydney Morning Herald about Kishi Nobuchiyo and the future of the Abe-Kishi dynasty. Tobias Harris, a Japan analyst and former political staffer in Toko who wrote Abe’s biography The Iconoclast, said it was an inauspicious start to a political career. “I mean it just shows the challenge of … Continue reading Harris quoted in the Sydney Morning Herald

Harris quoted in Nikkei Asia

by Tobias S. Harris

Tobias Harris spoke with Nikkei Asia‘s Ken Moriyasu for an account of Rahm Emanuel’s time as ambassador in Tokyo: Emanuel has also leaned on traditional Japan experts to deepen his understanding of the Japanese political system. Tobias Harris, deputy director of the Indo-Pacific program at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, briefed Emanuel … Continue reading Harris quoted in Nikkei Asia

The Bank of Japan embarks on a new era

by Tobias S. Harris

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The Bank of Japan (BOJ) acted as expected, unwinding Kuroda-era policies including negative interest rates, yield curve control, and risk asset purchases.

But the BOJ’s move may be less significant in the near term: the bank will continue to purchase long-term bonds to prevent a sharp increase in interest rates, a decision that will suit Prime Minister Kishida Fumio.

The new interest rate outlook will also spur more debate within the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) over the future of fiscal policy.