Japan's 6-month current account surplus quadruples

Don't forget the cheap oil.

Seems like economic news in Japan is based on the Good Cop Bad Cop principle, you get some good news followed by some bad news and it goes back and forth.

Tomorrows headline "Japans deficit quadruples"

Thanks a lot Japanese! I have been a silent Kenyan who for long is an adherent of Japan's economic development. What is your secret as most of the African nations have for long been on their economic deathbeds? There is more to politics than economic realization. Advise us as you keep excelling.

Too bad it didn't sextuple. There should be more sextupling in this world.

Maybe finally, companies will start to give the pay raises they have been promising for the past while, and Abe has been begging for. If people have more money they will spend more and round and round the wheel continues.

and this wouldnt have been possible with a high Yen. Low yen is here to stay for a long while yet

There's a downside to this no one has mentioned, and that's the fact that the country's current account surplus means its exporting far more than its importing - good for Japanese corporations, but what about Japan's consumers? Butter or cheap produce, anyone?

The drop in the Yen, over 40% in the last 5 years, has increased tourism, especially from those holding dollars. Japan is now a cheap place to visit, compared to 5 years ago. The question is: How much will a minimum wage worker be able to afford if this trend of currency devaluation continues to $1 to 150 yen?