Japan's current account surplus doubles to ¥20.63 tril in 2023

How come if everything is so rosy I only see mainly old and poor people?

The only people splashing the cash are foreigners on holiday.

Japan has become the country of no laughs or not even smiles.

I remember 30 years ago when it was so dynamic and you felt the world was its oyster.

Seems the rich are getting super rich and the others are just taking it on the chin like they usually do.

Everyone is working too much for little pay while the rich skim everything including the politicians.

Japan just doesn't feel like a country that is doing well.

I would expect strong demand for the yen to make it stronger. What's going on???

Quick! Bung some of the extra into our pensions.

Japan just doesn't feel like a country that is doing well.

Funny, because where I live in Setagaya, the place is positively dripping with money....

People in markets know Japan's world leading fixed income asset base been SERIOUSLY impaired due to these Biden high "inflation" years, to tune of multi $TRILLIONS in Losses, if "marked to market".

Consider, anyone who bought a 30Year Treasury in 2019 is today sitting on approx. 60% in losses, IGNORING the effects of inflation on purchasing power.

So True losses above make $139B look like CHUMP change. With Yen so weak, asset losses Not Bad in Yen terms, happy!!!!!

And Japan gets even richer.

Looks like Japan is "coming back", in terms of the Current Account.

Lower Yen really helping those exports tick along nicely. Coupled with the massive boom in inbound tourism - which is set to soar further! Foreign visitors lined up in their millions to get over for Hanami...

Lower energy prices helped a bit but was not nearly so much trade related as income related on investments abroad.

But as I wrote above, actual value of assets abroad not nearly so positive, simply unrealized losses. Depreciation of Yen makes income far larger vs. constant currency basis.

@Tamarama Just a thought they say if you follow a money trail you will find crime,

Japan just doesn't feel like a country that is doing well.

Funny, because where I live in Setagaya, the place is positively dripping with money....

This is impressive, especially as it's a year to year figure. Japan's economy, in terms of trade and investment, is clearly on the right track, as I predicted a couple of years ago, back when nearly everyone else was a Japan doomsayer.

Too bad Japan's stingy and greedy private sector doesn't want to pay its workers property.

When speaking of international law the people using human shields are the ones responsible for civilian deaths

Thats not true. Both the shielding party and the belligerent party are responsible. Proportionality is also very important, but Im not adding anything new there.