Japan to issue 'bridging bonds' to fund investment schemes, Nikkei says

TOKYO - Japan plans to issue "bridging bonds" to fund the administration's flagship programmes aimed at boosting investment in growth and economic security areas, the Nikkei newspaper reported on Thursday.

Bridging bonds are used to cover temporary funding needs and issued with guarantees on specific means to pay for redemption.

The idea will be part of a proposal the ruling Liberal Democratic Party will submit to the government on Thursday, the Nikkei said without citing sources.

The government will consider including the idea of issuing bridging bonds in its medium-term fiscal blueprint, due in July, the paper said.

The prime minister's office was not immediately available to comment.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has laid out 17 strategic areas she will target in expanding domestic investment, which will involve several years of government involvement.

The key was how to fund the programmes with Japan's huge public debt and the premier's expansionary fiscal policy already keeping markets jittery over the country's worsening finances.

Since they are issued for temporary funding, bridging bonds would be excluded from the government's calculation of Japan's fiscal measurements such as its debt-to-gross domestic product ratio.

(Reporting by Leika Kihara; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)

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This story was originally published May 27, 2026 at 7:29 PM.