As the Japanese government continues its preparations ahead of the 2020 Summer Olympic Games to be held in Tokyo, the Bank of Japan’s massive economic stimulus plan — in response to the 2008 global financial crisis — has kept interest rates near zero percent since 2010. Recently, Institutional Real Estate Asia Pacific senior editor Dr Jennifer Molloy asked a number of experts on Japan their opinions about the country’s economy and property markets, and their responses are collected below. The roundtable discussion includes Leslie Chua, senior vice president, director, and head of Asia Pacific investment research, with Heitman; Tenshin Ito, managing director, M&G Real Estate Japan Co; and Koichiro Obu, head of research and strategy Asia Pacific, alternatives, with DWS.

What indicators should institutional investors watch to best understand the health of Japan’s economy and real estate market?