━━ SHWE DIRECT · BUSINESS & ECONOMY
Rates, wages and your wallet
Issue 1 · October 29, 2026
Hi {{first_name|there}},
Welcome to the first Business & Economy issue of Shwe Direct. Each edition we'll pick the money and work news that actually affects Burmese people living in Japan, and explain it in plain language. This week: a big interest rate decision, higher minimum wages, and one practical tip.
1. The Bank of Japan decides on interest rates tomorrow
The Bank of Japan (BOJ) announces its latest policy decision on Friday, October 30. In September it raised its key rate from 1% to 1.25%, the highest level since 1995, so most analysts expect it to hold steady this time. Many economists are now watching December as the next possible increase. A Bloomberg poll reported by The Japan Times put that chance at around 83%.
Why it matters to you
Loans: if you have a variable-rate loan, such as a mortgage, higher rates can eventually mean higher repayments. Ask your bank how your rate is set.
Savings: deposit rates in Japan are still low, but they tend to rise slowly as the BOJ raises rates.
The yen: rate decisions often move the yen. This matters if you send money home regularly, because even small moves change how much your family receives.
2. Minimum wages are going up
A government panel recommended raising the national average minimum wage by ¥55 an hour for this fiscal year, from ¥1,121 to ¥1,176. That is a 4.9% increase, smaller than last year's record ¥63 rise. Each prefecture sets its own final amount, and the new rates are being introduced from around this month. Nippon.com reports that Tokyo's new minimum is ¥1,281, Kanagawa's is ¥1,280 and Osaka's is ¥1,232.
Check your pay: if you work part-time or by the hour, including arubaito, compare your hourly rate with your prefecture's new minimum wage. Start dates differ by prefecture, so confirm yours with your local Labour Bureau or the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare website. Your employer is required to pay at least the minimum.
3. Money tip of the week: compare the real cost of sending money home
When you transfer money to family, the advertised fee is only part of the cost. Before you send, compare:
the fee,
the exchange rate you are given versus the market rate, and
how much your family actually receives at the other end.
Pick the service that delivers the most to your family, not the one with the lowest headline fee.
Coming up
What the BOJ decided on October 30, and what to expect in December
A beginner's guide to taxes and resident tax for foreign workers
Practical ways to save while prices keep rising
Tell us what to cover
What money or work question would you like answered in a future issue? Just reply to this email. We read every message.
See you next week,
The Shwe Direct Team
Sources: The Japan Times (BOJ meeting preview, Oct 28, 2026); Nippon.com and Jiji Press (minimum wage, July 2026). This newsletter is for general information only and is not financial or legal advice.
