William Sposato

William Sposato is a Tokyo-based journalist who has been a contributor to Foreign Policy since 2015. He has been following Japan’s politics and economics for more than 20 years, working at Reuters and the Wall Street Journal. He is also the co-author of a 2021 book on the Carlos Ghosn affair and its impact on Japan.

Articles by William Sposato
Bank of Japan (BOJ) Gov. Kazuo Ueda speaks during a press conference after a two-day meeting at the BOJ headquarters.
Bank of Japan (BOJ) Gov. Kazuo Ueda speaks during a press conference after a two-day meeting at the BOJ headquarters.

Japan’s Big Bet on Interest Rates May Not Pay Off
Analysis
William Sposato
Local Taiwanese newspapers featuring the presidential election results on the front pages rest on a counter in an office building in Taipei.
Local Taiwanese newspapers featuring the presidential election results on the front pages rest on a counter in an office building in Taipei.

Japan Wants Both Taiwanese Security and Chinese Trade
Analysis
William Sposato
Customers look at products on display outside a train station in the Akihabara district of Tokyo.
Customers look at products on display outside a train station in the Akihabara district of Tokyo.

Japan Finally Got Inflation. Nobody Is Happy About It.
Analysis
William Sposato
A videographer points a camera toward a wall-length window that shows a brightly-lit street of in Tokyo just after sunset.
A videographer points a camera toward a wall-length window that shows a brightly-lit street of in Tokyo just after sunset.

Japan’s GDP Bump Is Real but Fragile
Analysis
William Sposato
A man wearing a gray suit walks on the sidewalk in front of an array of television screens that show the numbers on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in white text against a red background.
A man wearing a gray suit walks on the sidewalk in front of an array of television screens that show the numbers on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in white text against a red background.

Japan’s Stock Market Is Finally Back to 1990 Levels
Analysis
William Sposato
A soldier from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force 1st Airborne Brigade takes part in a joint military drill with Britain, Australia and the United States in Funabashi, Japan, on Jan. 8.
A soldier from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force 1st Airborne Brigade takes part in a joint military drill with Britain, Australia and the United States in Funabashi, Japan, on Jan. 8.

Japan’s Defense Plans Are Big, Popular, and Expensive
Argument
William Sposato
Then-Bank of Japan Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda attends a central bank symposium.
Then-Bank of Japan Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda attends a central bank symposium.

Japan Has Raised Inflation but Can’t Shake Stagnation
Analysis
William Sposato
A semiconductor manufacturing plant is seen in Japan.
A semiconductor manufacturing plant is seen in Japan.

Japan Bets Big on Bringing Semiconductor Manufacturing Home
Analysis
William Sposato
Natsuo Yamaguchi (left) of the Komeito party and Kazuo Shii of the Japanese Communist Party hold up signs as they take part in a party leaders' debate in Tokyo on June 21.
Natsuo Yamaguchi (left) of the Komeito party and Kazuo Shii of the Japanese Communist Party hold up signs as they take part in a party leaders' debate in Tokyo on June 21.

Japan’s Political Stability Depends on a Minor Party’s Leverage
Argument
William Sposato
Children sit near a public water fountain as members of the Unification Church attend a rally
Children sit near a public water fountain as members of the Unification Church attend a rally

Shinzo Abe’s Killing Puts Unification Church Under Microscope
Analysis
William Sposato
Two unidentified military vessels off Taiwan
Two unidentified military vessels off Taiwan

Beijing’s Taiwan Aggression Has Backfired in Tokyo
Analysis
William Sposato
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during a news conference.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during a news conference.

Election Victories Empower Kishida’s Agenda for Japan
Dispatch
William Sposato
People mourn former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's killing
People mourn former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's killing

‘How Could This Happen in Japan?’
Analysis
William Sposato
(From left) Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, U.S. President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
(From left) Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, U.S. President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Japan Is Getting Real on Security After Ukraine
Analysis
William Sposato
Bank of Japan governor Haruhiko Kuroda
Bank of Japan governor Haruhiko Kuroda

Japan Finally Gets Inflation—but the Wrong Kind
Analysis
William Sposato
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