Japan business chiefs hope for stronger yen as import costs rise

Interview

Keidanren leader, others anticipate wage hikes, moderate economic growth in 2026

The leaders of Japan’s main business lobbies. From left: Akio Yamaguchi, Yoshinobu Tsutsui and Ken Kobayashi. (Nikkei montage)

TASUKU IKEDA

January 2, 2026 01:26 JST

TOKYO — Further depreciation of the yen would not benefit Japanese companies, the leaders of the country’s major business lobby groups said in interviews with multiple media organizations.