Fitch Ratings has affirmed Japan’s Long-term foreign and local currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) at ’A+’ with a Negative Outlook. The Short-term IDR has been affirmed at ’F1+’. The Country Ceiling has been affirmed at ’AA+’.

The affirmation of Japan’s sovereign ratings in part reflects the greater commitment of the Bank of Japan and government to bring to an end two decades of economic stagnation and deflation. If successful and underpinned by structural reform to raise potential growth along with a credible medium-term deficit reduction plan, Japan’s adverse public debt dynamics could be corrected. The Negative Outlook reflects the uncertainty over the success of these efforts to shift the economy onto a more positive real and nominal growth path as well as the absence of more detailed reform and fiscal consolidation programme.