One-third of listed Japan companies to hike fiscal 2022 dividends

Murata and Tokyo Electron lead Japan Inc.'s bullish move to reward investors more

Corporations in Japan are turning more optimistic about their business prospects as one in three listed companies are expecting to increase their dividend payouts for the year ending in March 2022. (Photo by Kei Higuchi)

Nikkei staff writers

June 7, 2021 18:33 JST

TOKYO -- One in three listed companies in Japan are planning to increase dividend payouts this fiscal year, the largest number in three years, reflecting corporations' bullish business outlooks.

Japan Inc.'s shift from hoarding cash to increasing shareholder returns for the year ending in March 2022 shows improvements in the economic outlook, as companies dust off the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.