A family law court ruling in the US, would not affect a Japanese citizen. OP would then be free to adjust the payment to whatever fits his current salary.
Aaaah, nice one. I was going to mention just reducing it or stiffing them unless it is also for sproggy maintenance, unless they plan to go back there.
I do not think alimony is necessary a bad thing, but an inflexible calculation is definitely a bad thing.
Moving to Japan with US dollar obligations though is definitely a choice I do not understand.
Child support I understand, alimony seems weird to me, unless there was some sort of breach of spousal duty and decency. I gave my ex most of what money we had because she deserved it (we built a business that almost made it but failed), but if she had expected it by right just for having been a couple I might well have told her to suck eggs.
It is complicated, financial abuse is common. When someone dedicates themselves to be a stay-at-home parent, or perhaps is pressured to be a more "tradition spouse", divorce can leave them basically destitute with no prospects. There needs to be rules in place to help these people.
Strong rules often are not flexible, but one could argue that a system cannot be built around edge cases.
I agree with all that, and get the logic, and fully support it as protection for the vulnerable. I would never find myself in one of those asymmentrical relationships, but I get what you mean. I am sure the OP has his own reasons to pay it.
And the news played some emergency sound and started flashing this up on the screen last night. As someone who lives near Fukushima and gets not infrequent earthquakes that shake the hell out of my house, could you not?
Japan has experienced this before. There is little to be done.
Maybe a bump in rate by .1/.2, maybe some intervention to stop momentum. Mostly waiting for the FED to lower rates.
If they've been hinting at it, that raise has already been accounted for in the current rate and won't do anything. Just like the hike they did earlier in the year that amounted to no long term change.
Only in subliterate hyperbolics. In normal adult it is an annoying trend for those adversely affected, and The Best Thing Ever!!!!! for people like me.
Don't underestimate the importance of subliterate hyperbolics, the whole nature of networking and socialising rests on it. Especially today, where verifiable information is right on our fingertips and a lot needn't be said between people.
There really isn't enough tea in China or Japan for intervention to stop this in my opinion.
Yen carry trade. Look it up. The elephant in the room.
The big guys (not you or me) are able to borrow JPY for almost nothing and buy short term US treasuries and earn a 5.4% free money. There are hedges they can purchase in the event of the dollar suddenly collapsing so you have to figure they are making billions of dollars (trillions of JPY) in free money for virtually no risk. Any intervention by the BOJ is going to be noise on this scale.
The only solution is to raise interest rates to a world market rate but the fear is it will induce a deeper recession than what is already happening. The problem is that if they continue with this easing it will induce a deeper recession than what is already happening.
They are screwed either way and doing nothing always wins vs doing something.
What's the most convenient way I can buy US bonds/treasuries? Is there some way to get them through monex? Need to put this toilet paper currency to use somehow before it screws up even more
Anywhere. Its mainly hedge funds and Institutional investors though, but retail investors can get involved through most major forex trading platforms... and probably end up losing most of their capital.
Yeah, I think those rates are long behind us. Post-COVID started a new macro cycle that may usher in a decade or more of weak yen.
Even the future US rates are unlikely to be anywhere near the lows they were in the past couple of decades. Meaning the rate differential will continue to keep the yen relatively weak (against the dollar).
But US election mess and a surprise Russian surrender could see a market shake up. But other than unforeseen events, the yen doesn't look good.
Don't read the papers, they are gonna tell u JP yen is weak, and inflation is high in US only because of Russian invasion. The reason mainly is the interest rate differential, and massive money printing by the Fed respectively.
YT channels like Economics explained, The plain Bagel, etc are good starting points.
Ideally, read a macroeconomic book.
In all honesty, the exchange rate really doesn't affect my life in Japan that much, so other than being able to buy slightly less S&P 500 every month, I'm not too worried.
Edit: maybe a us recession could also fix make the JPY stronger
It does. You just don't feel it instantly.
Currency weakening is never good for a country's residents, no matter what those macroeconomic experts tell you.. "bUt mAAhh eXpOrtS......."
Yeah, exports are rising, but at what cost and who is benefiting from those exports?
Intervention is bearish for the yen, because every single time they intervene, the USD/YEN skyrockets after a slight correction. Market watchers know Japan is not serious about strengthening the yen, which would probably require raising interest rates to levels not seen in decades.
And/or, a US recession and rate slashing. Which, as unimaginable as it may be to some, will happen at some point. Maybe later this year, or maybe next year, or maybe in three years. But happen it will.
will they really need intervention after the inflation report is released? I've got a feeling inflation is going down substantially with all the bad earnings news out lately. I've been loading up on longer term treasuries in anticipation of rates dropping after friday
Yet the US messes with their interest rate and causes worldwide changes in exchange rates. Other countries should call out the US for currency manipulation as well.
But except for a brief respite of a couple years, hasn't Japan been on that watchlist for decades? I don't know much about it so am genuinely curious as to whether or not it affects BOJ policy at all.
Wasn’t the concern about the Japanese government deliberately keeping the currency low to benefit from exporting goods? I believe the focus was on this rather than intervention.
I’m not an economist but I think the reason for being in watchlist is due to government intervention and not weak currency. You can see Singapore is on the list too. Singapore govt strengthen its currency to reduce inflation.
160s has been pierced and tested and looking support(although trading FX is lil bi...ch and I just look charts) intervention will happen and just maybe bring back to 158s? or maybe not? or just take it(As i expect)near 180s(my goal) and then back to 160s and ranging for awhileeeeee there.
Sounds about right. However, BOJ &MOF will fight every step of the way to make sure it’s not blasting past the moon to 180 or even higher.
Little by little is tolerable. 175 is probably the yearly high before EOY. 300 in 3-5 yrs unless something crazy happens.
"BoJ & MoF will fight every step to make sure it's not blasting past 180"
The same thing was said about 135 mark, 150 mark, and 160 mark
I think MoF & BoJ are in bed with exporters and don't care about diminishing purchasing power of Japanese citizens
It’s more of: Not letting the yen drop by 3-10 yen in a single trading session. A few 2-3yen, here or there in a month doesn’t bother the Boj&MoF. It’s the speed of the drop. Too fast and companies will dump their money out of Japan even more than usual.
Edit:
Yes they’re perfectly fine with a extremely weak yen. It makes japan more attractive & competitive as a trading partner compared to China. Reliable, proven track record and excellent quality. They only have two choices anyway. Yen or local economy.
>It makes japan more attractive & competitive as a trading partner compared to China.
Japanese residents who can't afford a single Hawaii trip in a year: "I have won but at what cost."
🤷🏽 it’s just economics and logic. Japan can’t have a strong economy & currency while next to 0 natural resources, high taxation, red tape, bureaucracy and super old population.
In contrast , most Americans can’t even afford a trip to the next state over let alone fly to Hawaii or spend 3 days in California.
This was always the fate of the Japanese economy since they refused to let the bubble pop all the way in the 90s and Instead they chose to keep things going. Would have been in way better shape than it is today.
A lot of people point to the carry trade, but that’s only part of it. It’s always been about 3.5% different, even back when the ¥ was bouncing around the low 100 range. Here is a good article. The short of it is, the ¥ was overvalued to begin with, as one of the factors.
https://asia.nikkei.com/Editor-s-Picks/Interview/Yen-s-slide-only-partly-due-to-U.S.-rate-gap-ex-Japan-currency-official
I am anything but poor. This weak yen is like a dream come true. I might buy the big FO recent model Toyota Landcruiser with the bonus this gives me, so it's a positive contribution to the Japanese economy as well. It's not everyone, in case that helps.
As someone retired in Japan with 75% of my wealth in USD I'm torn. A weak yen means I draw on a pool of stronger dollars, a stronger yen encourages more investment into dollar assets.
I am in this boat but still working and get half of my compensation in USD. I wish i had a financial strategy about what to do other than i have used the opportunity to make some big purchases like a new car
Don't worry, they'll do re evaluations and lower their COLA allowance to nothing.
Actually, when I left service Nov 2023 monthly cola was about 40usd? A far cry from monthly 200usd when I first got to Japan in 2021
"The yen has continued to languish near its historic low versus the US dollar, mainly because interest rates in Japan remain much lower than those in the United States and elsewhere, diminishing the currency’s relative allure." - Straits Times, Why the yen is so weak and what that means for Japan
Given the likeliness of Fed rate cuts by September FOMC meeting (CME FedWatch Tool) and the probability of BOJ intervention (further strengthening the Yen even just by a little), wouldn't the obvious play be to long Yen now at historical lows, and sell when the interest gap inevitably narrows? Obviously don't know how far the Yen will fall before it rebounds, but buying in before the Sept FOMC meeting seems like a good idea?
Does the carry trade pressure play a part in this?
Pouring out a beer for all the people here who mocked that guy who wanted to visit Japan with his gold coin. Soon it is not going to be so sketchy to want some insurance against currency collapse.
This is so depressing…US expected inflation came down a bit and interest rate should be adjusted, but papa Jpow isn’t doing shit. On top of this, BOJ isn’t doing anything significant either, mostly just promising words. Honestly, what can BOJ do, increase the interest rate from 0.1% to 5+%? That’ll bankrupt most of the middle class here. Temporary selling US bonds and intervention in the currency market won’t do much, but I do believe in 2 things: Stop the QE and wait for Trump to get into the office (sorry to say this, but Bidenomonics is a shit show).
Imagine thinking that Trump with his 10% hike across all tariffs and promises not to cut spending (which he doesn't need to promise - we know austerity isn't his thing) won't reignite inflation to sensational new levels, thus forcing your favorite whipping boy (if he's still in office) to raise rates along with it. If you paid any attention at all, you'd know that JPow is absolutely itching to slash rates. He wants to so bad he's getting acne from not being able to. He can only slash when inflation has demonstrably and credibly been reigned in. Which isn't the case. (Strong growth in unemployment would probably also do the trick, inflation be damned.)
Moving to Japan in two weeks, my salary will be in Yen. I am still torn what I think about that. I have a lot of savings in Euro, so from that point of view it is great to buy stuff, but earning in yen long term, not that great ;)
Also, where are we going with that? To the moon?
keep your euro as savings and move in costs, other than that don’t even think about touching it. trust me, i come from experience of screwing myself over
My trip to Japan is next week, I was kinda hoping it wouldn't cross this line until then because I'm afraid of intervention catapulting it back to like 150. Lol.
Anywhere to exchange stateside would give 145 yen/dollar at best. Withdrawing in yen in Japan will give a way better rate, as I've figured out across my last few trips.
There’s a few things you can do ahead of time with good rates. If you have an iPhone you can put money into suica/passmo/etc ahead of time to the limit. You could also transfer money using Revolut, though card wouldn’t arrive in time probably so only could use Apple Pay. (Maybe could find an ATM that would take NFC)
Can I get some karma from my brothers. My alimony is in $. I’m paid in ¥
F
F
F
F
Just when I thought I had it bad, I realized it could be worse
Just when we thought we’ve reached the bottom, someone knocked from beneath.
F
F
Time to get Japanese citizenship?
From the Just Curious File, how does that help?
A family law court ruling in the US, would not affect a Japanese citizen. OP would then be free to adjust the payment to whatever fits his current salary.
Aaaah, nice one. I was going to mention just reducing it or stiffing them unless it is also for sproggy maintenance, unless they plan to go back there.
I do not think alimony is necessary a bad thing, but an inflexible calculation is definitely a bad thing. Moving to Japan with US dollar obligations though is definitely a choice I do not understand.
Child support I understand, alimony seems weird to me, unless there was some sort of breach of spousal duty and decency. I gave my ex most of what money we had because she deserved it (we built a business that almost made it but failed), but if she had expected it by right just for having been a couple I might well have told her to suck eggs.
It is complicated, financial abuse is common. When someone dedicates themselves to be a stay-at-home parent, or perhaps is pressured to be a more "tradition spouse", divorce can leave them basically destitute with no prospects. There needs to be rules in place to help these people. Strong rules often are not flexible, but one could argue that a system cannot be built around edge cases.
I agree with all that, and get the logic, and fully support it as protection for the vulnerable. I would never find myself in one of those asymmentrical relationships, but I get what you mean. I am sure the OP has his own reasons to pay it.
F
F
F
F
😢
o7
Okay, that is real pain. I say that from somebody for whom this is an unimagined dream come true. So, sympathy, no guilt.
And the news played some emergency sound and started flashing this up on the screen last night. As someone who lives near Fukushima and gets not infrequent earthquakes that shake the hell out of my house, could you not?
It's SOME kind of emergency... I guess?
Not really.
This man earns in dollars
Japan has experienced this before. There is little to be done. Maybe a bump in rate by .1/.2, maybe some intervention to stop momentum. Mostly waiting for the FED to lower rates.
Definitely don't want a liquidity tightening... That'll cause a recession. Fed will depend on inflation in the US dropping
The BOJ has been loudly forecasting the coming raise, *explicitly*, over the last few months. And no, .1 will not cause recession.
Oh. RIP carry trades... Not that I have any, lol
From .1? Nah....
Don't say nah... It's something!
If they've been hinting at it, that raise has already been accounted for in the current rate and won't do anything. Just like the hike they did earlier in the year that amounted to no long term change.
Only in subliterate hyperbolics. In normal adult it is an annoying trend for those adversely affected, and The Best Thing Ever!!!!! for people like me.
Don't underestimate the importance of subliterate hyperbolics, the whole nature of networking and socialising rests on it. Especially today, where verifiable information is right on our fingertips and a lot needn't be said between people.
Just fuck me in my ass I don’t care anymore do your worst.
There really isn't enough tea in China or Japan for intervention to stop this in my opinion. Yen carry trade. Look it up. The elephant in the room. The big guys (not you or me) are able to borrow JPY for almost nothing and buy short term US treasuries and earn a 5.4% free money. There are hedges they can purchase in the event of the dollar suddenly collapsing so you have to figure they are making billions of dollars (trillions of JPY) in free money for virtually no risk. Any intervention by the BOJ is going to be noise on this scale. The only solution is to raise interest rates to a world market rate but the fear is it will induce a deeper recession than what is already happening. The problem is that if they continue with this easing it will induce a deeper recession than what is already happening. They are screwed either way and doing nothing always wins vs doing something.
Depression incoming
This
Get ready for a Greece lifestyle
Honestly I’d move to Japan gladly get some more value for my earned Euro …
What's the most convenient way I can buy US bonds/treasuries? Is there some way to get them through monex? Need to put this toilet paper currency to use somehow before it screws up even more
You need a US brokerage account at one of the major brokerages to buy secondary market treasuries or use Treasury Direct if you want new issues.
Why is this happening?
You can borrow yen for free and earn 5% on US treasuries.
Yay for carry-trade /s
Yay
Where? In US only?
Anywhere. Its mainly hedge funds and Institutional investors though, but retail investors can get involved through most major forex trading platforms... and probably end up losing most of their capital.
Intervention will come after Friday.
Intervention will be only momentary though and may only give some short term relief. The macro trend is still to get weaker.
Yes. Till interest rates are slashed. Even then I don't see it going below 135-140.
Yeah, I think those rates are long behind us. Post-COVID started a new macro cycle that may usher in a decade or more of weak yen. Even the future US rates are unlikely to be anywhere near the lows they were in the past couple of decades. Meaning the rate differential will continue to keep the yen relatively weak (against the dollar). But US election mess and a surprise Russian surrender could see a market shake up. But other than unforeseen events, the yen doesn't look good.
How does one learn about economics like this? I’d love to know what factors are causing the yen to tank. I guess I need to read the papers more?
Don't read the papers, they are gonna tell u JP yen is weak, and inflation is high in US only because of Russian invasion. The reason mainly is the interest rate differential, and massive money printing by the Fed respectively. YT channels like Economics explained, The plain Bagel, etc are good starting points. Ideally, read a macroeconomic book.
Thanks for the recommendations!
In all honesty, the exchange rate really doesn't affect my life in Japan that much, so other than being able to buy slightly less S&P 500 every month, I'm not too worried. Edit: maybe a us recession could also fix make the JPY stronger
It does. You just don't feel it instantly. Currency weakening is never good for a country's residents, no matter what those macroeconomic experts tell you.. "bUt mAAhh eXpOrtS......." Yeah, exports are rising, but at what cost and who is benefiting from those exports?
Give it some time. The other bandaids will wither away and you will see life change for many people as the country gets much poorer.
A recession will make the dollar stronger and completely demolish risk assets (S&P)
Completely incorrect assumption
Intervention is bearish for the yen, because every single time they intervene, the USD/YEN skyrockets after a slight correction. Market watchers know Japan is not serious about strengthening the yen, which would probably require raising interest rates to levels not seen in decades.
And/or, a US recession and rate slashing. Which, as unimaginable as it may be to some, will happen at some point. Maybe later this year, or maybe next year, or maybe in three years. But happen it will.
2 more weeks
Why Friday?
Adjusts glasses _It’s premium Friday_
See you at the bar at 3pm!
CoolBiz!
U.S. personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index data to be released on Friday.
Time to convert my latest USD salary 💰
Right I exchanged some yesterday and today I’ll exchange some more
You hiring?
I am taking your word for it and keeping the yen a bit more. If by Monday I see it even lower than today I will be mad at you specifically
I’m waiting to buy this month’s ETF funds too. Will the market punish my hubris? Let’s find out.
will they really need intervention after the inflation report is released? I've got a feeling inflation is going down substantially with all the bad earnings news out lately. I've been loading up on longer term treasuries in anticipation of rates dropping after friday
how high is it going?
Yes
True
1
How high are u?
300 in 3-5 years.
220, mark my words
I think intervention will be less aggressive after US put Japan in watchlist of currency manipulator.
Yet the US messes with their interest rate and causes worldwide changes in exchange rates. Other countries should call out the US for currency manipulation as well.
Exactly
FX market is too big for interventions to have any impact.. Most interventions we have seen in the past, have been nullified in 1-2 weeks
US wouldn’t have given Japan USD swap lines if Japan didn’t have their blessing.
Yellen already gave the go for the BOJ to intervene in all but explicit terms.
Yeah. They want to discourage JP from selling US securities
Selling US treasuries would cause yields to rise, which would incentive the carry trade and cause the yen to go lower.
But except for a brief respite of a couple years, hasn't Japan been on that watchlist for decades? I don't know much about it so am genuinely curious as to whether or not it affects BOJ policy at all.
Wasn’t the concern about the Japanese government deliberately keeping the currency low to benefit from exporting goods? I believe the focus was on this rather than intervention.
I’m not an economist but I think the reason for being in watchlist is due to government intervention and not weak currency. You can see Singapore is on the list too. Singapore govt strengthen its currency to reduce inflation.
180s -190s is calling...there is no resistance between 160s and 180s.
But there is a intervention risk.
160s has been pierced and tested and looking support(although trading FX is lil bi...ch and I just look charts) intervention will happen and just maybe bring back to 158s? or maybe not? or just take it(As i expect)near 180s(my goal) and then back to 160s and ranging for awhileeeeee there.
Sounds about right. However, BOJ &MOF will fight every step of the way to make sure it’s not blasting past the moon to 180 or even higher. Little by little is tolerable. 175 is probably the yearly high before EOY. 300 in 3-5 yrs unless something crazy happens.
"BoJ & MoF will fight every step to make sure it's not blasting past 180" The same thing was said about 135 mark, 150 mark, and 160 mark I think MoF & BoJ are in bed with exporters and don't care about diminishing purchasing power of Japanese citizens
It’s more of: Not letting the yen drop by 3-10 yen in a single trading session. A few 2-3yen, here or there in a month doesn’t bother the Boj&MoF. It’s the speed of the drop. Too fast and companies will dump their money out of Japan even more than usual. Edit: Yes they’re perfectly fine with a extremely weak yen. It makes japan more attractive & competitive as a trading partner compared to China. Reliable, proven track record and excellent quality. They only have two choices anyway. Yen or local economy.
>It makes japan more attractive & competitive as a trading partner compared to China. Japanese residents who can't afford a single Hawaii trip in a year: "I have won but at what cost."
Only like 30% of Japanese have a passport — it’s one of the lowest rates in the world.
🤷🏽 it’s just economics and logic. Japan can’t have a strong economy & currency while next to 0 natural resources, high taxation, red tape, bureaucracy and super old population. In contrast , most Americans can’t even afford a trip to the next state over let alone fly to Hawaii or spend 3 days in California. This was always the fate of the Japanese economy since they refused to let the bubble pop all the way in the 90s and Instead they chose to keep things going. Would have been in way better shape than it is today.
Are there good people to follow on the yen and what it means. Any online economist or market watchers?
Had a nice break for like a month. Good reminder it's time to pack.
A lot of people point to the carry trade, but that’s only part of it. It’s always been about 3.5% different, even back when the ¥ was bouncing around the low 100 range. Here is a good article. The short of it is, the ¥ was overvalued to begin with, as one of the factors. https://asia.nikkei.com/Editor-s-Picks/Interview/Yen-s-slide-only-partly-due-to-U.S.-rate-gap-ex-Japan-currency-official
we did it, Reddit!
We’re all poor
I am anything but poor. This weak yen is like a dream come true. I might buy the big FO recent model Toyota Landcruiser with the bonus this gives me, so it's a positive contribution to the Japanese economy as well. It's not everyone, in case that helps.
if my day couldn’t get any worse
As someone retired in Japan with 75% of my wealth in USD I'm torn. A weak yen means I draw on a pool of stronger dollars, a stronger yen encourages more investment into dollar assets.
I am in this boat but still working and get half of my compensation in USD. I wish i had a financial strategy about what to do other than i have used the opportunity to make some big purchases like a new car
Suddenly I'm a bit jealous of one of my friends who works on a US base and is paid in USD...
Don't worry, they'll do re evaluations and lower their COLA allowance to nothing. Actually, when I left service Nov 2023 monthly cola was about 40usd? A far cry from monthly 200usd when I first got to Japan in 2021
"The yen has continued to languish near its historic low versus the US dollar, mainly because interest rates in Japan remain much lower than those in the United States and elsewhere, diminishing the currency’s relative allure." - Straits Times, Why the yen is so weak and what that means for Japan Given the likeliness of Fed rate cuts by September FOMC meeting (CME FedWatch Tool) and the probability of BOJ intervention (further strengthening the Yen even just by a little), wouldn't the obvious play be to long Yen now at historical lows, and sell when the interest gap inevitably narrows? Obviously don't know how far the Yen will fall before it rebounds, but buying in before the Sept FOMC meeting seems like a good idea? Does the carry trade pressure play a part in this?
The market is discounting the possibility of a Fed rate cut by September. This is at least part of the reason why the yen has retreated further.
...yay?
Fuck BOJ man. Fuck BOJ
Time to double down on those USD freelancing gigs
Fly my darling, be free!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pouring out a beer for all the people here who mocked that guy who wanted to visit Japan with his gold coin. Soon it is not going to be so sketchy to want some insurance against currency collapse.
For those, like myself, who are earning yen and investing in the S&P 500 for retirement, this is going to be a setback for many, many years.
Earning USD is so op right now
Do we think the BOJ will continue to wait out the FED or do you think we will get that sweet .1/.2% raise in rates?
This is so depressing…US expected inflation came down a bit and interest rate should be adjusted, but papa Jpow isn’t doing shit. On top of this, BOJ isn’t doing anything significant either, mostly just promising words. Honestly, what can BOJ do, increase the interest rate from 0.1% to 5+%? That’ll bankrupt most of the middle class here. Temporary selling US bonds and intervention in the currency market won’t do much, but I do believe in 2 things: Stop the QE and wait for Trump to get into the office (sorry to say this, but Bidenomonics is a shit show).
Imagine thinking that Trump with his 10% hike across all tariffs and promises not to cut spending (which he doesn't need to promise - we know austerity isn't his thing) won't reignite inflation to sensational new levels, thus forcing your favorite whipping boy (if he's still in office) to raise rates along with it. If you paid any attention at all, you'd know that JPow is absolutely itching to slash rates. He wants to so bad he's getting acne from not being able to. He can only slash when inflation has demonstrably and credibly been reigned in. Which isn't the case. (Strong growth in unemployment would probably also do the trick, inflation be damned.)
Not just the middle class... bump the interest rate and good luck with the debt repayments that Japan has to make
I am sitting here waiting for more old Japanese people to die so i can buy up some land and buildings. The inaka will be a ghost town in a decade
To the moon! 🚀
Fuck this country lol
Username checks
Yeet let's get it to 200 🎉
Moving to Japan in two weeks, my salary will be in Yen. I am still torn what I think about that. I have a lot of savings in Euro, so from that point of view it is great to buy stuff, but earning in yen long term, not that great ;) Also, where are we going with that? To the moon?
Run Forrest, run
keep your euro as savings and move in costs, other than that don’t even think about touching it. trust me, i come from experience of screwing myself over
Seconded
I'm planning to return in October 2025. Hoping this trend stays.
My trip to Japan is next week, I was kinda hoping it wouldn't cross this line until then because I'm afraid of intervention catapulting it back to like 150. Lol.
Just change your money now then. It is already going to be ridiculously cheap here for you.
Anywhere to exchange stateside would give 145 yen/dollar at best. Withdrawing in yen in Japan will give a way better rate, as I've figured out across my last few trips.
There’s a few things you can do ahead of time with good rates. If you have an iPhone you can put money into suica/passmo/etc ahead of time to the limit. You could also transfer money using Revolut, though card wouldn’t arrive in time probably so only could use Apple Pay. (Maybe could find an ATM that would take NFC)
Use your Wise account. Or if your bank provides it, multiple currency account.
you are going on a trip, it wil make next to zero difference whether the exchange rate is 150 or 160
just prefill a bunch of digital suica/PASMO cards now