Japan 2015 National Wealth Down for 1st Time in 4 Years

Tokyo, Jan. 19 (Jiji Press)--Japan's national wealth at the end of 2015 totaled 3,290.2 trillion yen, decreasing 0.4 pct from a year before to mark the first fall in four years, the Cabinet Office said Thursday. The decrease in national wealth, or the net assets owned by the nation's central and local governments, firms and individuals, reflected falling net external assets. The net external assets declined 6.6 pct to 339.3 trillion yen, the first drop in five years, as the value of shareholdings by foreigners increased, raising the amount of external liabilities. Land assets grew 0.2 pct to 1,145.4 trillion yen. Combined with other types of assets including financial assets, the country's gross assets rose to a record 10,219.1 trillion yen. The central and local governments saw their combined assets decrease 18.2 pct to 62.6 trillion yen. Their assets exceeded debts for the first time in five years, due to a revision to the calculation method, such as the inclusion of research and development investment in assets. Net assets at households increased 0.7 pct to 2,483.1 trillion yen. END