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The Bank of Japan raises its policy interest rate to 1.25%, the highest level in 31 years.

The Bank of Japan raises its policy interest rate to 1.25%, the highest level in 31 years.

C1🇯🇵 日本語🇺🇸 English

September 18th, 2026

The Bank of Japan raises its policy interest rate to 1.25%, the highest level in 31 years.

C1
Please note: This article has been simplified for language learning purposes. Some context and nuance from the original text may have been modified or removed.

🇺🇸 English

On Friday, the Bank of Japan raised its benchmark interest rate from 1.0% to 1.25%, bringing it to a level not seen in 31 years.

日本銀行は金曜日、基準金利を1.0%から1.25%へと引き上げ、これは31年ぶりの高水準に達することとなった。

After keeping interest rates at or near zero for decades in an effort to combat deflation and spur borrowing and spending to revive Japan's sluggish economy, the Bank of Japan is now seeking to normalize its monetary policy.

日銀はデフレに対抗し低迷する日本経済を立て直すため借り入れと支出を促そうと、何十年にもわたり金利をゼロ近辺かそれ以下に維持してきた後金融政策の正常化を図ろうとしている

A hike in the uncollateralized overnight call rate, which is a short-term interest rate, was anticipated at the conclusion of the two-day monetary policy meeting and had already been widely priced into global markets recently.

短期金利である無担保コール翌日物金利の引き上げは、2日間の金融政策決定会合の終わりに予想されており、最近の世界市場でも広く織り込まれていた。

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda stated that the decision was reached after taking into account a variety of risks, such as the war in Iran, growing market demand for artificial intelligence, and exchange-rate fluctuations.

日銀の植田和男総裁は、イラン戦争や人工知能に対する市場需要の拡大、為替変動といった多様なリスクを検討した上で、決定に至ったと述べた。

While telling the press corps that the Japanese economy was continuing a moderate recovery, he pointed out that the inflation rate was approaching the 2% target.

記者団に対し、日本経済は緩やかな回復を続けていると語る一方で、インフレ率が目標とする2%に接近しつつある点を指摘した。

Analysts say that an additional rate hike may take place in the latter half of this year or early next year.

アナリストらは今年後半か来年初めに追加利上げが行われる可能性がある述べている

When asked about an additional rate hike, Governor Ueda stressed that more time is needed to determine whether inflation will continue in a stable manner, and that wage growth and other risk factors must be monitored.

追加利上げについて問われた植田総裁は物価上昇が安定して続くかどうかを見極めるにはより多くの時間が必要であり賃金の伸びやその他のリスク要因を監視する必要がある強調した

According to Governor Ueda, two of the nine members of the policy committee expressed concern about the strength of Japan's economic growth and dissented.

植田総裁によると、9人の委員で構成される政策委員会のうち2人が、日本の経済成長の強さに懸念を表明し、反対した。

The US Federal Reserve (FRB) also raised its key interest rate this week.

米連邦準備制度理事会(FRB)も今週主要金利を引き上げた

Wednesday's US rate hike was the first since 2023 and was a measure aimed at quelling stubbornly persistent inflation.

水曜日の米国の利上げは2023年以来初めてであり頑固に高止まりするインフレを鎮めるための措置であった

Furthermore, amid concerns over the yen's depreciation, the United States has been urging Japan to raise interest rates.

米国はさらに、円安に対する懸念を背景に、日本に対して利上げを促してきた。

The two countries recently resorted to coordinated intervention in order to support the yen.

両国は先般円を支えるべく協調介入に踏み切った

Despite the Bank of Japan's measures, the US dollar continued to rise, at one point breaking through 157 yen.

日銀の措置にもかかわらず米ドルは上昇を続け一時157円を突破した

At the start of the year, it had exceeded 160 yen.

年初には160円を超えていた

The Bank of Japan has set an inflation target of about 2%.

日銀は約2%のインフレ目標を設定している

In Japan, although the inflation rate is currently at roughly that level, some consumers are voicing dissatisfaction that the recent surge in prices is excessive, especially with regard to gasoline and petroleum-related products.

日本では現在、インフレ率はほぼその水準にあるものの一部の消費者はとりわけガソリンや石油関連製品を中心に最近の物価急騰は行き過ぎだと不満を漏らしている

Harumi Taguchi, an economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said, "With crude oil prices remaining elevated, the Bank of Japan is expected to proceed with an additional rate hike sooner or later in order to curb the risk of consumer price inflation exceeding the underlying inflation rate."

S&Pグローバル・マーケット・インテリジェンスのエコノミスト、田口晴美氏は「原油価格が高止まりする中、日銀は消費者物価上昇率が基調的なインフレ率を超えるリスクを抑えるため、遅かれ早かれ追加利上げに踏み切ると予想される」と述べた。

She added that rising interest rates could weigh on the economy through higher borrowing costs for small and medium-sized firms and higher mortgage rates.

金利の上昇は、中小企業の借入コストの増大や住宅ローン金利の上昇を通じて、経済を圧迫しかねないとの見方を彼女は付け加えた。

Analysts are further concerned about the aggressive fiscal spending promised by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's government, such as tax cuts and proactive defense investment, at a time when public debt has already swelled.

アナリストらはさらに、公的債務がすでに膨らんでいる中、高市早苗首相の政府が約束した減税や積極的な防衛投資といった積極的な財政支出についても懸念を抱いている。

Following the announcement of the Bank of Japan's decision, the Nikkei 225, the benchmark stock index of the Tokyo market, reversed course to rise, posting a gain of 1.4%.

日銀の決定が公表されたことを受けて、東京市場の主要株価指数である日経平均株価225は上昇に転じ、1.4%の値上がりを記録した。

Yuri Kageyama makes use of Threads: https://www.threads.com/@yurikageyama

Yuri KageyamaはThreadsを活用なさっておられます: https://www.threads.com/@yurikageyama

September 18th, 2026

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