"NHK Special," which will be broadcast on NHK General TV from 9:00 pm on April 13th, will be a large-scale series depicting people who continue to struggle, celebrating the 100th anniversary of broadcasting, "Mikan no Baton." The first episode will focus on the theme of "Japanese government bonds," and will deliver a six-month follow-up on the scene surrounding the issuance of government bonds.
While government bonds are a source of funding for public services, the outstanding balance of government bonds has reached approximately 1100 trillion yen, and issues have been pointed out. Furthermore, the Bank of Japan, the largest buyer of government bonds, has announced a policy to reduce purchases. With the Bank of Japan raising its policy interest rate and once again entering a "world with interest rates," the issuance of Japanese government bonds is at a historic crossroads.
The program follows the Finance Ministry's Government Bond Planning Division, which is responsible for issuing and drafting government bonds. To ensure stable issuance of government bonds, bureaucrats are calling for investment from domestic and overseas institutional investors alike. In the Middle East, the program also covers negotiations with an investment company that uses oil money as capital. With government bonds said to reflect the nation's credit, officials pose tough questions about the future of the Japanese economy and finances.
As the government is forced to make difficult decisions regarding the issuance of government bonds, the Ministry of Finance is also being criticized for its mismanagement of the economy and finances, which has led to people saying, "The reason people's lives have not improved during these so-called lost 30 years is because of the mismanagement of the economy and finances." Through close-up coverage of unknown areas, we look at Japan's future.
Director Naruse Kota, who was in charge of the research and production, commented, "A few years ago, my first child was born, and I received a variety of government services, such as assistance at the time of birth and child allowances. But how are these expenses covered? With a significant portion of the financial resources currently covered by government bonds, I wonder if this support will continue when my child becomes an adult. I chose 'national bonds' as the theme for this project, as I believe that thinking about national bonds leads to thinking about the future."
