Japan’s net external asset continued to be the highest in the world for 27 years: about 328,000,000 million yen

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

日本の対外純資産は328兆円余 27年連続世界一

5月25日 10時20分

日本の企業や個人が海外に持っている資産から外国企業が持つ日本の資産などを差し引いた対外純資産は３２８兆円余りで、前の年より２％減りましたが２７年連続で世界一になりました。

対外純資産は、日本の政府や企業、個人が海外に持っている会社や工場、証券などの資産額から外国企業が日本に持っている資産などを差し引いたものです。

財務省によりますと、日本が海外に持っている資産額は去年１２月末の時点で１０１２兆４３１０億円で、前の年より２．７％増えました。

一方、海外の企業などが日本に持っている資産などの額は、日本企業の株価が上昇したり債券への投資を増やしたりしたため６８３兆９８４０億円で、前の年より５．２％増加しました。

この結果、対外純資産は３２８兆４４７０億円となり、前の年より２．３％減って３年連続で減少しました。

ただ、日本の対外純資産は、２７年連続で世界一になっています。

財務省によりますと、２位はドイツの２６１兆円余り、３位は中国がおよそ２０５兆円で続き、アメリカは逆に、世界最大のおよそ８８６兆円の対外純債務を抱えています。

Translation

The net external asset of Japan calculated by deducting properties held by foreign companies in Japan from property held by Japanese enterprises and individuals in foreign countries was about 328,000,000 million yen; it was 2 % less than the previous year but still was continuously the highest in the world for 27 years.

Net external asset was the amount of companies, factories and securities owned by the Japanese government, enterprises or individuals in foreign countries deducted by the properties held by foreign companies in Japan.

According to the Department of the Treasury, the amount of Japanese properties held in foreign countries as of the end of December last year was 1,012,431,000 million yen and was an increase of 2.7 % from the previous year.

On the other hand, the amount of asset held by overseas enterprises in Japan was 683,984,000 million yen and was an increase of 5.2 % from the previous year because the stock prices of Japanese companies rose and there was an increased in bond investment.

As a result, the amount of net external asset was 328,447,000 million yen which was 2.3 % less than the previous year and was a continuous decrease for 3 years.

However, Japanese net external asset continued to be the highest in the world for 27 years.

According to the Department of the Treasury, in the 2nd place was German with about 261,000,000 million yen; China had approximately 205,000,000 million yen in the 3^rd place. Conversely, the United States had the highest net foreign debt in the world at approximately 886,000,000 million yen.

     No wonder Japanese yen is popular among investors and is welcome during world-wide financial turbulence. Also, there is a good reason why the US is eager to address its trade imbalance.