Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the government is not in a position to set a new numerical target for the nationwide minimum wage, arguing instead that its role is to create conditions that allow companies to lift pay faster than inflation. Takaichi noted that since the government began signalling interest in formal wage targets, it has faced pushback from firms in regional areas, where smaller employers say mandated increases would strain already-tight operating margins. Her comments suggest Tokyo is opting for a more flexible, growth-led approach rather than imposing top-down wage benchmarks. This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at investinglive.com.