1 Dollar = 89 Yen

When we look at the currencies, the dollar seems to be declined. As a result, the yen has climbed higher from this summer, and has reached 89 yen level last Friday. It is for the first time since this February.

Strong yen is not a bad thing, according to some politicians. Japan faces with a problem of natural resources. Japan does not have so many kinds of natural resources that it has to import from foreign countries. It actually seems good to import with cheaper prices under the strong yen.

In the late 80's, Japan was in the strong yen days. Many entertainers came to Japan to do their shows such as Michael Jackson, Madonna, the Rolling Stones... etc. Japan's economic growth in 1987~88 was 5 or 6%.

Now it is quite lower than those years, and it has been supported by the exports toward the US or China which put the stimulate policies to their economy. Is it suitable to pursue the strong yen policy at this moment? There is an argument that making its own currency weak will lead to protectionism.

The current Japanese new government seems to try to change its economic structure not relying on exports. In other words, it may seeks the way to be independent in terms of economy as much as possible.

5 days off

I have had 5 days off until today. You can tell how I feel now... not wanting to return to work-mode. Works always require me to act more than my level, so I tend to get tired at the end of the day. Believing in contribution to society through my job is the only way to keep working.