Japanese bond yields fall as market reacts to possible cuts

Japan is looking to cut back on how many super-long government bonds it issues this year, as pressure mounts from rising yields and growing anxiety about the country’s debt.

The decision is being weighed by the Ministry of Finance, according to Reuters, and will likely be finalized in June after talks with market participants.

This possible cut targets bonds with the longest maturities—specifically 20-, 30-, and 40-year Japanese Government Bonds (JGBs)—after demand dropped sharply and yields surged to multi-year highs.

Traditional buyers like life insurers have started pulling back, while global investors have grown cautious as Japan’s massive public debt raises questions about long-term sustainability.

Bond yields fall as market reacts to possible cuts

The market responded fast. The 30-year JGB yield fell by 12.5 basis points to 2.91%, hitting its lowest level since May 14. At the same time, the benchmark 10-year yield fell 5 basis points to 1.455%.

The news dragged down the yen, which weakened 0.3% against the dollar to 143.275. Even US Treasuries moved, with the 30-year Treasury yield falling 7 basis points to 4.963% in early London trading.

The sharp moves started after the finance ministry sent out a questionnaire to financial institutions, asking how much super-long debt should be issued for the rest of the fiscal year. Traders saw that as a clear hint that officials want to scale back the long end of the curve to calm the volatility and match weak demand.

Following that, Japan’s 20-year yield dropped 19.5 basis points to 2.31%, and 40-year yields tumbled 25 basis points, further confirming how sensitive the market has become.

The effects also spilled into US bond markets, where the decline in Japanese yields triggered a global wave of buying, especially in longer-dated securities.

Japan’s total bond issuance to remain at 172.3 trillion yen

Despite the possible cuts to longer-term bonds, the overall amount of debt Japan plans to issue this fiscal year will stay the same—172.3 trillion yen, or $1.21 trillion, until March 2026. What might change is the composition.

If the ministry trims super-long maturities, it will likely sell more shorter-term debt instead. That could include 2-, 5-, or 10-year bonds, depending on where demand is stronger.

Analysts like Shier Lee Lim, lead FX and macro strategist at Convera Singapore, believe the change is being driven by pressure from bond vigilantes—investors who sell off debt to protest irresponsible fiscal behavior.

“The shift in issuance strategy is seen as a response to rising pressure from bond vigilantes — investors who push back against unsustainable fiscal policies,” Shier said. “While short-term sentiment has improved, the increased reliance on shorter-dated issuance may lead to higher rollover risks over time.”

That risk is real. Swapping long-dated debt for short-term notes might help lower current yields and calm traders, but it also means Japan will have to refinance its debt more frequently—and in possibly worse conditions.

For now, the finance ministry hasn’t announced how much of each maturity it’ll sell. That decision will depend on the outcome of June’s market meetings.

What’s clear is that confidence in Japan’s bond market has been shaky. Last week, 30-year US Treasury yields climbed toward levels not seen since 2007, as debt concerns slammed developed markets.

Japan’s central bank has also been signaling it may reduce its massive holdings of JGBs, adding even more uncertainty. While the Bank of Japan hasn’t acted yet, the talk alone is enough to make investors uneasy.

The fear is that once the bank pulls back, there won’t be enough demand left to support longer maturities—especially with insurers now stepping aside. That leaves the Ministry of Finance with limited options: either face rising borrowing costs or adjust the supply before it gets worse.

So far, the government is choosing to act. The question is whether this tweak will be enough, or just a temporary fix that leads to bigger problems down the road. Investors will be watching June’s decision closely to see if Japan can strike the balance between market stability and fiscal survival.

Your crypto news deserves attention - KEY Difference Wire puts you on 250+ top sites