GBPJPY1. Japan 10-Year Government Bond Yield
As of early June 2025, the Japan 10-year government bond yield is approximately 1.50% to 1.52%.
The yield rose by about 18 basis points in May 2025, closing near 1.50%, influenced by global yield increases, Moody’s US credit downgrade, and reduced BoJ purchases of super-long bonds.
The Bank of Japan maintains a very accommodative monetary policy with a policy rate around 0.50%, and the yield curve control program continues to cap longer-term yields, though with some recent volatility.
The Bank of England’s policy rate is higher than Japan’s, around 4.5% to 5.0%, consistent with the higher gilt yields.
2. Interest Rate Differential
Using approximate yields:
UK 10-year gilt yield: ~3.75% (midpoint estimate)
Japan 10-year JGB yield: ~1.50%
The 10-year bond yield differential (UK minus Japan) is roughly:
3.75%−1.50%=2.25%
This positive differential indicates UK bonds offer significantly higher yields than Japanese bonds, reflecting the divergent monetary policies and economic conditions.
Summary Table
Metric United Kingdom (GBP) Japan (JPY) Differential (GBP - JPY)
10-Year Government Bond Yield ~3.5% - 4.0% ~1.50% ~2.25%
Policy Interest Rate ~4.5% - 5.0% ~0.50% ~4.0%
Implications for GBP/JPY
The higher UK bond yields relative to Japan suggest a carry advantage for GBP over JPY, encouraging investors to hold GBP assets funded by low-yielding JPY.
According to uncovered interest rate parity (UIP), this yield gap implies the GBP should depreciate against JPY by about 2.25% annually to offset the higher returns, but in practice, GBP/JPY movements also depend on risk sentiment, growth outlook, and central bank policies.
The yen’s safe-haven status and BoJ’s yield curve control can dampen yield-driven moves, while the UK’s inflation and policy tightening support higher yields and GBP strength
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