A Reuters survey found nearly half of Japanese companies view Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda’s monetary policy positively. Reasons for negative views vary, with some critiquing his cautious approach to raising rates. The BOJ recently finished selling off stocks bought in the 2000s, prompting market attention to its 37 trillion yen ETF holdings.

The survey also revealed that eight out of 10 companies in Japan employ non-Japanese workers due to labor shortages, strengthening overseas operations, and acquiring specialized knowledge. Immigration has become a hot-button issue, with a newly emerging party advocating tougher rules on accepting foreign workers. Most survey respondents believe restrictions on foreigners should not be strengthened.

As the Japanese population shrinks, companies are turning to foreign workers for development. Bankruptcies related to labor shortages are on track to reach a record high in 2025. Concerns for the second half of the year include changes in raw material prices, foreign exchange rates, interest rate movements, and potential impacts from new U.S. tariffs.

Read more at Yahoo Finance: Nearly half of Japanese firms approve of BOJ chief’s performance: Reuters poll