Land of the Rising Yields

May 27, 2025 | Madelyn Waumans, Research Associate

For many years, Japan experimented with ultra-loose monetary policy given long-term economic stagnation and persistent deflationary pressures that plagued the nation. Actions related to this policy included the Bank of Japan pushing interest rates lower, the implementation of yield curve control, and the purchase of more than 50% of all outstanding Japanese government bonds by the central bank. Roughly one year ago, however, the Bank of Japan ended both its yield curve control and negative interest rate policies after achieving sustained inflation and wage growth. Unfortunately, policymakers in Japan face an entirely new set of problems today.

As detailed in this week’s chart, yields on long-term Japanese government bonds have surged in recent days following a weak auction outcome, with the nation’s 30-year bond yield climbing to a record of 3.14%. There are many reasons for this spike, including new trade restrictions that pose a dual challenge to the Japanese economy. On one hand, tariffs diminish the likelihood of near-term interest rate increases by the Bank of Japan, thereby boosting demand for short-term debt. At the same time, trade tensions heighten inflation risks, which undermine investor confidence in long-term bonds. These dynamics present a dilemma for the Bank of Japan as it seeks to scale back its bond buying program and signal potential trouble for Japan’s heavily indebted government. To be clear, rising yields in Japan reflect a broader pattern, as long-term borrowing costs have climbed across major economies given investor concerns over the ability of governments to manage large fiscal deficits. Still, Japan finds itself on particularly precarious footing, and its central bank must now contend with inflationary pressures, weaker sentiment, and demographic headwinds.

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