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ultragamerz · 1 month

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2024 The Wild World of Meme Coins: A Look at 12 Popular Tokens

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2024 The Wild World of Meme Coins: A Look at 12 Popular Tokens

The Wild World of Meme Coins: A Look at 12 Popular Tokens

$DOGE $FLOKI $SLERF $DUKO $MFER $PENG $BOME $CANDLE $TROLL $MUMU $Hege $Mong

The cryptocurrency market can be a serious business, but there’s also a lighter side fueled by internet humor and virality. Enter meme coins – cryptocurrencies inspired by internet memes and online jokes. While they may lack the perceived utility of other crypto projects, meme coins can experience explosive growth thanks to community hype and social media trends. Let’s take a deep dive into 12 of the most popular meme coins, exploring their origins, functionalities, and potential:

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Which one will you Buy during this dip?<a href=”https://twitter.com/search?q=%24DOGE&src=ctag&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>$DOGE</a><a href=”https://twitter.com/search?q=%24FLOKI&src=ctag&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>$FLOKI</a><a href=”https://twitter.com/search?q=%24SLERF&src=ctag&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>$SLERF</a><a href=”https://twitter.com/search?q=%24DUKO&src=ctag&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>$DUKO</a><a href=”https://twitter.com/search?q=%24MFER&src=ctag&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>$MFER</a><a href=”https://twitter.com/search?q=%24PENG&src=ctag&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>$PENG</a><a href=”https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BOME&src=ctag&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>$BOME</a><a href=”https://twitter.com/search?q=%24CANDLE&src=ctag&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>$CANDLE</a><a href=”https://twitter.com/search?q=%24TROLL&src=ctag&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>$TROLL</a><a href=”https://twitter.com/search?q=%24MUMU&src=ctag&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>$MUMU</a></p>— Elon Musk (Parody) (@ElonMuskPDA) <a href=”https://twitter.com/ElonMuskPDA/status/1783102815017308291?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>April 24, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>

1. Dogecoin (DOGE) – The OG Doggo Coin (https://dogecoin.com/) Dogecoin, the granddaddy of meme coins, features the iconic Shiba Inu dog from the “Doge” meme. Launched in 2013 as a joke by Billy Markus and Jackson Palmer, Dogecoin gained mainstream popularity with tweets from Elon Musk and garnered a passionate community known as the “Doge Army.” DOGE has limited functionality beyond being a medium of exchange, but its cultural significance and strong community backing have fueled its success.

2. Floki Inu (FLOKI) – Taking Over for Doge? (https://floki.com/) Capitalizing on the Shiba Inu theme, Floki Inu claims to be the “son of Doge” and has gained traction with its association with Elon Musk’s dog of the same name. FLOKI aims to be more than just a meme coin, offering features like an NFT marketplace, a play-to-earn game, and a charitable arm. However, its long-term success hinges on the execution of its development roadmap and maintaining community interest.

3. Slurp ($SLERF) – All About the Memes (https://blockworks.co/) Slurp embraces the meme culture with a constantly evolving mascot, often featuring internet-famous characters and references. The project prioritizes fun and community engagement, hosting regular contests and giveaways. SLERF has limited real-world use cases beyond being a community token, but its focus on fun and lightheartedness could attract users seeking a more light-hearted crypto experience.

4. Ducky Inu (DUKO) – Quacking its Way into Crypto (https://www.duckychannel.com.tw/) DUKO features a cute duck character and aims to provide a fun and easy entry point for new crypto users. The project offers a decentralized exchange (DEX) and a staking platform within the Binance Smart Chain ecosystem. However, DUKO faces stiff competition from established DEX platforms, and its long-term success relies on attracting and retaining a loyal user base.

5. Mothership (MFER) – Bringing the Memes to DeFi (https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/mothership/) MFER takes a different approach, utilizing the “Mfers” meme within a Decentralized Finance (DeFi) ecosystem. The MFER token grants access to a platform offering various DeFi features like staking, governance, and potential future NFT integration. While the project holds promise for DeFi enthusiasts, its success hinges on attracting users who value both the meme aspect and the DeFi functionalities.

6. Penguin Finance (PENG) – Waddling into the Market (https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/penguincoin-old/) PENG features a penguin mascot and focuses on building a decentralized exchange (DEX) within the Binance Smart Chain ecosystem. Unlike some meme coins with limited functionality, PENG offers a real-world use case for users seeking alternative trading platforms. However, the success of PENG relies heavily on the overall adoption and liquidity of its DEX platform.

7. Bombshell (BOME) – Making a Big Bang (https://www.wsj.com/articles/bitcoin-blockchain-hacking-arrests-93a4cb29)

BOME utilizes a sexy anime character as its mascot and aims to create a fun and engaging community around its token. The project has plans for an NFT marketplace, a play-to-earn game, and its own anime series. However, BOME faces criticism for its reliance on a potentially exclusionary mascot and the ambitiousness of its development roadmap.

8. Candle (CANDLE) – Burning Bright in the Memeverse (https://www.candlestick.io/)

CANDLE features a simple candle chart as its logo and focuses on building a sustainable meme coin through a deflationary token model. A portion of every transaction is burned, reducing the total supply of CANDLE tokens over time, which some believe can increase its value. However, the effectiveness of this model in a volatile market like meme coins remains to be seen.

9. TrollCoin (TROLL) – Feeding the Online Antics (https://www.coinbase.com/price/trollcoin)

TROLL uses the “trolling” meme as its inspiration and aims to create a fun and engaging community for internet pranksters. The project has limited real-world use cases beyond being a community token, but its focus on humor and lightheartedness could resonate with users seeking a more playful crypto experience.

10. Mumu the Bull (MUMU) – A Bovine Take on Meme Coins

Mumu the Bull (MUMU) takes a unique approach to the meme coin space by featuring a bullish character instead of the more common dog theme. Inspired by the “Mumu the Bull” meme, popular within the crypto community as a symbol of bullish market sentiment, MUMU aims to capitalize on this positive association.

The project has plans for a decentralized exchange (DEX) and a yield-generating mechanism for MUMU holders. However, the long-term success of Mumu the Bull hinges on the execution of its development roadmap and attracting users who see value in its specific meme and its functionalities.

11. Hege Coin (HEGE) – Inspired by a Controversial Figure (https://coinmarketcap.com/dexscan/solana/CJcu7ciRHBHu4BDnpLgAUm1A6iSp9RuhJMG36rjjrxnd/)

HEGE is a more controversial meme coin, inspired by a historical figure. While the inspiration can be a source of community engagement, it can also raise ethical concerns and potentially limit its mainstream appeal. It’s crucial to conduct thorough research on the project’s background and community before investing in HEGE.

12. MongCoin (MONG) – Bringing Memes to the Real World (https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/mongcoin/)

MONG aims to bridge the gap between the meme coin world and real-world applications, focusing on charity and social good. The project partners with various charities and donates a portion of its transaction fees to support them. MONG offers a unique approach within the meme coin space, potentially attracting investors seeking to combine meme culture with social impact.

Important Note: Meme coins are inherently risky investments due to their high volatility and lack of underlying utility. Always conduct thorough research before investing in any cryptocurrency, and consider your risk tolerance. The information provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice.

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klosterfranks31 · 2 months

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FLOKI's Groundbreaking Collaboration Boosts Crypto Trading Opportunities

Exploring the Potential: FLOKI's Partnership Opens Doors for Institutional Investors

In a recent update, FLOKI has taken a significant step by joining forces with DWF Labs Liquid Markets. This move is not just any ordinary advance; it's a game-changer that facilitates institutional investors to engage in over-the-counter (OTC) trading of FLOKI on an unprecedented scale. Such a collaboration places FLOKI in a unique spot to tap into the expanding interest from big players, marking a pivotal moment in its path to become a leading global cryptocurrency.

FlokiFi Locker's Remarkable Success: A New Peak in TVL

Additionally, the introduction of FLOKI's crypto locker protocol, FlokiFi Locker, has hit a new height, boasting a Total Value Locked (TVL) of $148.8 million. This milestone not only establishes a new benchmark for the protocol but also surpasses the TVLs of prominent memecoins, underscoring the growing trust and adoption within the FLOKI ecosystem.

The FlokiFi Locker, employing FLOKI as its core utility token, plays a crucial role in the ecosystem. It allows for the locking of LP tokens, fungible tokens, and NFTs on both the ETH and BSC chains. contribute leads to the purchase and subsequent burning of $FLOKI, strengthening its utility and reinforcing its status as a deflationary asset. Moreover, FLOKI maintains its strong trading presence, positioning as the 11th most traded cryptocurrency worldwide.

A Bright Future: FLOKI's Strategic Path

The carefully thought out partnership with DWF Labs Liquid Markets and the remarkable performance of the FlokiFi Locker are testaments to FLOKI's forward-thinking approach and its dedication to becoming a leader in the cryptocurrency arena. With institutional investors now gaining access to OTC trading of FLOKI, the avenues are wide open for an influx of investment and engagement in the crypto sphere.

These developments highlight the increasing trust and adoption within the FLOKI ecosystem, setting a fresh benchmark for success. As FLOKI proceeds on its journey of evolution, the cryptocurrency enthusiasts awaits eagerly to see how its plans will unfold in ushering in a new era of cryptocurrency exchange and investment.

#FLOKI #cryptocurrency #news #institutional investment #OTC trading #FlokiFi #TVL #deflationary asset #partnerships #blockchain #crypto trends #crypto

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conyersmooney · 1 year

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Deflationary (DEF) Coming February 2023

Deflationary (DEF) is at https://www.deflationarytoken.com/ the native utility token for the DEFswap Finance platform. DEF is a true deflationary token and can also be used to purchase DEF NFTs directly from the NFT store. Converting DEF token into fiat is not required before making online purchases at most retail platforms like Shopify and more. Inflation is a lifetime problem and $DEF has a lifetime deflationary solution.

#Deflationary Crypto #Token Burn #Shiba Inu Price #Deflationary tokens

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annabelledarcie · 2 years

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Wondering what is all the hype about deflationary tokens? Whether they are worth the hype created. Let us discuss this now!

#deflationary token

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metaoneverse · 2 years

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#hyper-deflationary token #metaverse

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max1461 · 2 months

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I guess you can take roughly two attitudes towards human endeavors (in a very broad sense "the things we make"):

human endeavors are valuable insofar as they provide pleasure (etc.) to humans

human endeavors are valuable in their own right; they are imbued with value by those who endeavor for them

I think view (1) is more philosophically elegant, but I don't think it really "works" when applied to actual human life. I think taking view (1) seriously requires contorting ourselves pretty significantly from our natural inclinations, indeed from many of our most productive (even in the sense of view (1)) inclinations, for the majority of people. It may not be so for certain personality types overrepresented on this corner of the internet.

But like, imagine being an artist, and trying to actually live and work according to the maxim that your art should produce maximum pleasure in your audience. Where does this lead? Does it in fact lead to art that accomplishes that goal? Or does "making new and interesting art is valuable for its own sake, even if it displeases people. Improving my artistic abilities is valuable for its own sake, even if it is difficult" lead to better art? I think it's very probably the latter in most cases.

I just think that most people, even most people who argue for a deflationary view of value as in (1), would sort of be miserable if they actually took it seriously. They pay lip-service to it as a justification for their actions, but they don't actually think that hard about whether their actions really advance it, and they don't live by it, and they would be less happy if they actually tried!

#navel gazing

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argumate · 2 months

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Are you a Money Understander (or do you at least play one on the internet)? Why is deflation risk a big deal? Can the People's Bank of China not simply Brrrrrr the money printers until the price stickers on stuff are bigger than they were last year? And then they have a load of extra money to do whatever they want with.

you can print more money but its effect on inflation will depend on exactly where it is spent, I think.

spending more money on infrastructure that cuts the cost of doing business while continuing to suppress consumption by holding down wages or exchange rates or deposit rates just means that prices will drop, which is deflationary and not inflationary.

spending more money on people should drive consumption and raise prices, presumably, but a lot of governments find it easier to spend money on industry than people.

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transgenderer · 2 months

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i feel like i "get" what art made of words or depicting things is doing. like i understand whats going on there. how it affects you. it makes you think of / experience scenarios. the mind of the art responder (the reader, the viewer) responds to scenarios, just like in real life.

but art that isnt doing those things, i feel like...i dont understand. it affects me, but i dont understand why. this is i believe is the "fiction brained" outlook, as some on here have described it. im not sure how to go about understanding it. or if anyone understands it

i mean, theres a cynical, deflationary understanding, that theyre, idk, just input that happens to stimulate the system. a glitch, almost. and this might be true but if its true its sufficiently unilluminating that whats the point in believing it if we cant determine it certainly

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triviallytrue · 2 months

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I am thinking about doing something crazy (trying to pick up and read a macroeconomics textbook, just because.) yeah I know what a differential equation is, *that's* not what's crazy about this. rather: I am just tired of being economically illiterate. posts blowing up on this webbed site about how everyone is jealous that China is experiencing deflation, and I "know" deflation is "bad" but can't explain why. I am maybe sort of afraid of accidentally consuming "neoliberal" (ugh) propaganda but, like, I am far more afraid of just drifting along and uncritically consuming vibes-based financial wisdom from tumblr dot com until I have no idea what the hell I'm talking about. so. yeah

this is a good idea i think - there are a lot of leftist economics types who are critical of what you might describe as neoliberal consensus economics, but i think to properly understand these critiques you need to first understand the base assertions they're criticizing

also some of it is in fact correct

anyway the deal with deflation is that it incentivizes holding on to your money and not spending it, because your money will be worth more in the future, whereas low levels of inflation incentivize spending it

consumption/investment are both generally good for the economy, so you want individuals to be incentivized to spend their money. in the worst case, a deflationary spiral happens when people stop spending, demand/consumption falls, and this starts hitting the supply side, so workers start getting laid off. then these workers don't have money to spend, and it's self-reinforcing.

in theory good government policy bails you out of this - if a country controls its currency they can print more money, intentionally inflate their currency, and ideally distribute that money in a way that stimulates consumption, but that can be hard to do

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magicshopaholic · 1 year

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The Boyfriend (Namjoon x OC)

Summary: You use the boyfriend card to get out of a sticky situation.

Pairing: Namjoon x OC

Genre: Smut, some fluff

Word count: 5 K

Rating: 18+

Warnings: dirty talk, making out, fingering, oral sex, unprotected sex, doggy style, lots of insinuations

A/N: Smut. Just shameless smut. Set around six months after Seoul and can be read standalone.

Tagging: @bbl32, @quarter-life-crisis2, @margopinkerton, @faearchives, @whoisbts, @purpleseoul7, @kflixnet (if you want to be added to the taglist, lmk)

Listen to: “i wanna be yours” by arctic monkeys

namjoon masterlist | main masterlist

“So, based on what we’ve just talked about, which of these would be the best decision in a deflationary economy if you’re advising a crude oil giant?”

Answers pop up in a garble of voices, some educated guesses and some plain incorrect. There’s only one who seems to be completely confident in her answer.

“Jane, go for it.”

“Regulating supply to Q-1 until it hits the kink on the curve and the price rises to P-1.”

Before Kaya can respond, a student behind her wrinkles his nose.

“In a deflationary economy? So manufacturing and transportation costs can increase even more?”

“You want prices to increase so there’s greater investment in the economy -”

“How does investment help when there’s -”

“Alright, that’s enough,” calls Kaya, somewhat amused. Both students roll their eyes and each other and face forward. “You’re both right… theoretically. Who can tell me why?”

There’s another mess of answers and she chuckles, her gaze moving instinctively to the back of the class. There’s her thesis advisor, observing her teaching the class. He nods encouragingly behind his glasses, sharing her amusement. Behind him, in the last row, is that student again, the one with the baseball cap still on his head tilted low.

In spite of it, she can’t miss his eyes behind his glasses finding hers, and her heart stutters.

She averts her gaze instantly and takes a step backwards, reaching inside the bowl on her table. The sound of her heels clicking against the floor brings the class to relative silence.

Jane raises her hand again, pushing her glasses up with her other hand. In front of her, the open pages on her notebook are filled with scrawls in black ink of diagrams and text. Feeling a vague sense of kinship, Kaya points at her.

“Increased crude oil prices lead to greater investment in the shale oil space,” she answers immediately, and the guy behind her closes his eyes and sighs, evidently having forgotten this rather important detail. “This leads to an influx of cash in the economy, leading to more jobs and employment. As for the increase in costs,” she adds, turning around conspicuously to look at him, “that’s a side effect that can’t be helped. Those companies would be better off moving from consuming crude oil to shale oil.” Satisfied, she looks back to Kaya.

“Near perfect answer,” she confirms, tossing her a candy.

Despite the compliment, Jane frowns, absently catching the candy. The bell rings then and there’s a rustle as everyone begins standing up and gathering their things.

“Good class, everybody,” says Kaya, doing the same. “Don’t forget your pre-read for Wednesday’s class.”

There’s a murmur of assent as everybody begins heading out through the side doors in front of the class, passing by her desk to do so. Jane bounds up to her.

“Um, just asking for future reference,” she begins, “what was… not perfect about my answer? Because according to my notes,” she says, leafing through her notebook, “it was exactly what you said.”

Kaya winces internally, knowing that while teaching the class requires days of preparation, this is the hard part. Straightening up to face her, she sighs.

“Your answer was perfect,” she admits gently. “The gloating was not. Trust me, I’ve been there. Learnt it the hard way,” she adds honestly when Jane’s shoulders deflate and she trudges out with the rest of the class.

There aren’t too many people left in the class now. Another student, the same one who was caught unawares by Jane, stops by her desk. “I should’ve realised it was the shale thing,” he mutters, sounding disgruntled. “I don’t know how I missed it. I missed another thing last class. I don’t know why… is it possible - I mean…” He shuffles uncomfortably. “Do you… do you tutor?”

Hell no. “You don’t need tutoring, Jakob,” she answers instead, hoping she sounds encouraging. “You just need to pay a little more attention.” Kaya turns to switch off the projector, effectively ending the conversation. She doesn’t turn around until she hears footsteps behind her again, and her smile fades when she sees the student with the baseball cap, his hands in the pockets of his open hoodie. His glasses frame his face, and she sees blond hair peeking out from under the cap.

“I was going to ask the same thing,” he says after a moment, voice deeper than Jakob’s. “About the tutoring.”

Kaya swallows, her eyes darting around at the remaining few people still packing up. “My answer is the same as well,” she says shortly. “You don’t need tutoring.”

“I don’t?”

“No. You just need to pay attention in class.”

His gaze travels down her figure, from the slim white top to the pencil skirt she’d worn in hopes of being professional. The way he’s looking at her, though, is anything but. “You don’t make that very easy.”

She pauses, her heart racing. Still aware that they aren’t alone, she bites her lip. “I have a boyfriend,” she murmurs, too low for anyone else to hear.

There’s a shadow of a smile under the cap. He takes a step closer and she catches a whiff of his familiar cologne. He’s taller than Jakob, too… “That’s what you said last time,” he reminds her.

Kaya’s cheeks grow hot but before she can respond, someone else comes over.

“Kaya,” calls Adam, smiling. “Great class. You’re a natural,” he says, coming over and giving her a friendly one-armed hug.

She chuckles in relief, momentarily diverted. “Thank you. I tried to do everything you told me - notes and all,” she tells him.

“You nailed it,” he assures her, patting her shoulder encouragingly. In contrast to the previous conversation, Adam speaks at a regular volume. Tall and lean in his mid-thirties, he adjusts his laptop bag and a file of papers in his other hand. Behind him, the other student has smoothly stepped back and is leaning against Jane’s desk, pretending to pay attention to his phone even though his thumb isn’t scrolling.

“It was… fun,” she admits. “Kind of like a high.”

“The good ones are,” agrees Adam. “The students really respond to you. Keep it up and I can start unloading even more of my classes onto you,” he jokes, pushing glasses up his nose in a move identical to Jane’s.

“Can’t wait.” Kaya grins and waves as he exits the lecture hall, feeling the unique calmness of relief. She waits until he’s well out of sight, leaving only one other person in the room.

“Was he asking about tutoring, too?” he asks, voice a little dryer than before.

The relief still seeping through her veins, she shrugs. “No. He was complimenting my class, as I’m sure you heard.”

“I was going to do that, too.”

She chuckles. “I appreciate it, but Adam is my thesis advisor,” she tells him, now giving him her full attention as he approaches her. “In this case, his opinion matters the most.”

He nods, jaw hardening slightly. “Well, good thing I’m not your boyfriend or that would actually hurt a little,” he tells her, now standing right in front of her. His hand strokes her hip and she gasps softly, grabbing it to move it.

“Not here,” she whispers. “Anyone could walk in.” When he smirks, presumably in anticipation of exactly that, she deliberately shoves his hand away. “And there are cameras.”

“Afraid your boyfriend’s going to see? You weren’t this worried the last time.”

“That’s because the last time we did this, it was in the privacy of your studio,” she reminds him, slipping out from in front of him and grabbing her bag. “How did you even get in here? Didn’t anybody see you?”

“Um… no, actually,” he answers, shaking his head. “I literally just gave my name at the gate and walked in. Security’s not great here, now that you mention it,” he informs her, now at a more normal volume.

Kaya frowns, not expecting this. “Seriously? What - you just said your name is Kim Namjoon and just… walked in?”

“Oh, no, I gave a fake name, obviously,” he says as they walk out together. “But it still worked. No one gave me a second look,” he adds, sounding almost uncertain. “Quite surprising. But a good thing.”

“That is surprising,” she agrees in a low voice, hoping it stays true for the short walk to her office as well. Namjoon is taller than average; even wearing heels, it feels like he’s towering over her, shielding her whole figure. Still, the clothing probably works, for no one seems to pay them any attention. She’s thankful it’s a Sunday - the number of people on campus is fewer than usual. They reach her office in relative silence and it isn’t until they’re both inside and she’s shut the door that she finally relaxes.

“I don’t allow hats and hoods in my class, by the way,” she tells him pointedly, grinning when he takes the hat off. “Don’t make me give you detention,” she warns.

“I can handle detention,” he says easily, running a hand through his hair. Kaya allows herself to admire him freely now, leaning back against her table in the small, air-conditioned office.

“What are you doing here?” she asks him finally, tone softer than before.

“It’s your first class; I wanted to be there,” he answers, coming up to her and placing his hands on her hips again, tracing the shape in the pencil skirt. “And you were amazing. So confident and sexy,” he murmurs, tilting his head and brushing his lips against her collarbone.

Kaya feels goosebumps appear on her skin. “That’s… really sweet. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Well…” Namjoon straightens up. “I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to get in,” he admits. “And I didn’t want you to be nervous. Wanted you to focus on nothing but the class.”

She nods, biting her lip and wrapping her arms around his neck. “Thank you,” she says softly, leaning up before stopping abruptly. “Wait, what fake name did you use? I need to know who I’m making out with in my office.”

He raises an eyebrow. “And cheating on your boyfriend with?”

“Exactly.”

Namjoon rolls his eyes but tugs her hips closer to his. “I said my name was Jackson. It was the first one that popped into my head.”

“Jackson?” Kaya frowns, something stirring in her memory. “Don’t you have a friend called Jackson? Didn’t we - hang on, didn’t we go to a party at his house or something?”

“No, that wasn’t Jackson. Jackson was the one who sent me flowers and soup when I got a cold, remember? I think it was May,” he says vaguely.

“Oh, yeah, I remember you told me about that. He was a better girlfriend than me,” she teases, leaning up again.

“You still edge him out just a bit,” he mutters, pulling her closer and kissing her. She sinks into him instantly, the day’s stress, anxiety and relief disappearing in his taste and his scent. She feels his hands roaming her body with ease, running down the curves of her top and skirt, the pads of his thumbs pressing into the flesh, and she can tell here a restrained intake of breath.

“Don’t you think it’s unfair?” Namjoon murmurs, trailing kisses across her jaw. He takes a step forward and backs her into the table.

It takes Kaya a moment to respond. “What is?” she asks, eyes still closed.

“Expecting your students to concentrate the whole time when you’re up there looking like this,” he answers calmly, softly sucking the skin under her earlobe.

She almost rolls her eyes at this line but the feel of his body pressing up against hers makes it difficult to do so. “If they want that grade, they’re going to have to,” she says instead, tugging at the bottom of his hoodie. “Take this off,” she whispers, running her hands up to his shoulders and slipping it off.

He pulls away slightly. “What else can they do for a grade?”

She grins. “What can they do…” Hooking her fingers through the belt loops on his jeans, she pulls herself closer.

“... or what can you do?”

Being a famous person, presumably, is fraught with the possibility of scrutiny and inappropriate invasion of privacy. Namjoon seems to be an unwilling expert at it, knowing the ins and outs of using disguises, fake names, timed outings and secret exits.

Being with a famous person, at least for Kaya, is a black box. It sounds dangerous and mysterious, like the depths of Tartarus with the sounds of cameras clicking echoing from inside it. She doesn’t do well with not knowing, but this is one area where she’s restrained herself from Googling more than she should, for she knows the kind of stories she’s bound to stumble across.

In a somewhat insane attempt to cope, she’d convinced herself that as long she doesn’t see them, there’s a chance her mind is exaggerating and they don’t exist at all, like Schroedinger’s paparazzi. She hates the phrase, doesn’t believe in it - but Ignorance is bliss seems to be the safest option in this case, letting Namjoon take the lead when it comes to navigating a relationship in secret.

A good thing that’s come out of it? The desire to take advantage of every situation that presents itself, even at the most inopportune moments.

The last time Kaya had been in Seoul, she’d made a calculated decision to ask Hoseok to sneak her into the Big Hit building so she could find Namjoon in his studio.

“With respect, Hobi,” she’d said carefully on the phone, biting her lip, when he’d asked her curiously why she wanted to do this, “don’t ask questions you don’t want the answers to?”

It had taken Hoseok a full minute to understand what she might be referring to, during which time she wished very much that Yoongi wasn’t out of town at this time. Still, Hoseok had been kind enough to help her out and she’d smoothly made her way inside and knocked on her boyfriend’s studio, hoping the lace wouldn’t start chafing before it could be taken off.

To her horror, Namjoon hadn’t been alone. His eyes had widened in shock and she’d been ready to turn around and run, but whoever it was with him had frowned and pointed at her, asking Namjoon something in Korean.

Namjoon had stuttered out a response, tacking on “an intern” at the end in English, she knew, for her benefit. There had been some conversation after that which Kaya could make no sense of, following which Namjoon had handed her a folder filled with papers and a pendrive, apparently waving her away.

Fortunately, his companion had also left then, leaving only Namjoon and the intern in the studio.

“I’m sorry,” he’d said instantly, seeming a little confused, “but, what are you…”

“Obviously, since I’m an intern here,” she’d begun wryly, “I am doing my job. I’m… interning.”

“M-hm.”

There had been a moment where they’d met each other’s eyes and it occurred to Kaya that her surprise visit could unearth more than just a quickie in his studio.

“Anything else you need?” Namjoon had asked after a moment, taking a seat in his chair, elbows resting on his thighs and feet flat on the ground.

He was playing along. Kaya’s heart had raced in excitement and she’d tried to suppress her smile. “I’ve always admired your work,” she’d ventured, feeling just the tiniest bit ridiculous. But she’d tried to push the thought out of her mind and stay committed to the bit. “Could you teach me something?”

Namjoon hadn’t responded for a moment and she’d cringed, hoping it hadn’t gone from sexy surprise to average porno in three seconds straight. But then he’d cleared his throat and gestured for her to come closer. “Sure. I can teach you.”

Kaya had walked over and once she’d reached him, pretended to look around the studio. “Um… there’s no other place to sit,” she’d said, ignoring the four seater sofa and armchair. “From where I can see the monitor,” she’d added quickly.

He’d nodded thoughtfully and simply leaned back in the chair, gazing up at her calmly. Even sitting down, he was almost her height, torso long and broad, jeans stretching over his thighs and making his lap look most inviting.

“Have a seat.”

Her toes had curled inside her shoes and she’d nodded mutely, carefully resting on his knee while his hands lightly guided her hips. The slightest touch made her heart palpitate, as though sitting on his lap wasn’t one of the most natural parts of her days with him.

“Are you comfortable?” he’d asked.

Kaya had nodded. “Yeah. I mean,” she’d shrugged, going where her inspiration took her, “my boyfriend won’t like it, though.”

She’d felt him stir then, just a bit, underneath her. The next moment, he’d leaned forward so his chest was touching her back and his nose brushed her hair.

“Jackpot,” he’d whispered.

Kaya had only gone over with the intention of surprising her boyfriend during a busy week, maybe making out for a while like they had in his home studio years ago, maybe sneaking out to go grab a coffee. Unearthing a rudimentary fantasy that neither of them knew existed had not been part of the plan, but they’d rolled with it to achieve vastly satisfying results.

Now, Kaya feels similar stirrings low and deep in her abdomen, the same impulse in response to how intensely Namjoon is gazing at her, almost amused, but mostly hopeful - and this time, on her turf.

“I’m sure I can offer you something in return,” he suggests after a moment.

She raises an eyebrow, trying to ignore the leap in her chest. “Are you bribing me for a grade?”

“I’m bribing you really well for a grade,” he corrects her, reaching for her hips and gently squeezing her arse. “Fuck, that’s tight,” he mutters, his eyes falling to her skirt.

Kaya gasps, feeling her core tingle suddenly. “So far, you’re only teasing me for a grade,” she retorts, unable to keep the annoyance out of her voice.

Namjoon grins, dimple popping and eyes darkening. Without another word, he lowers his head to kiss her again, slipping his tongue into her mouth instantly. He squeezes her arse again before bringing his hands up higher, his fingers tightening on every curve and quietly grunting in pleasure when he reaches her chest.

“Have I mentioned how much I love this top?” he murmurs against her lips, squeezing her left breast and swallowing her sigh. “It makes your boobs look so sexy. I couldn’t look away the whole time,” he adds quietly, running his thumb over her nipple. Even through her bra, he can feel it hard and straining against the fabric.

“I can take it off,” she offers, struggling to keep her legs pressed together and her wits about her amidst his body up against hers. She fumbles in the chiffon ruffles for the string and tugs at it, loosening the top and feeling the tops of her breasts exposed to the cool air conditioner. She moves to take it off but he stops her.

“Keep it on,” he says, catching her wrist and bringing it down. “It’s too pretty to take off.” His lips move down her jaw to her neck, cupping her breast and thumbing her nipple again.

Kaya finds herself torn between regretting and being glad that she isn’t wearing a padded bra today. She lets out a soft sigh as he thumbs it again, his hair brushing her neck as she drops her head back slightly. His lips move lower, sucking a mark above the hem of her bra and she waits eagerly for him to pull down her top, knowing he’ll take his time.

He never does, though, straightening up as his hands smoothly moving down her chest and to her hips.

“I hate you,” she groans softly, her heart fluttering at his chuckle next to her ear.

Namjoon reaches down and pulls her skirt up her thighs until he can slide his hand in between her legs. He places his palm against her cunt and squeezes it, feeling her soaked through her underwear. “No, you don’t,” he murmurs, swallowing her gasp.

He rubs her through her underwear, his palm at her clit and his fingers right at her entrance. Kaya’s hands fall backwards to land on the table, supporting her as her knees feel weaker by the second. Namjoon holds her to him, though, his other hand on her arse as he presses her into his palm.

“Take it off, take it off,” she whines, dropping her head on his shoulder and grabbing his forearm for support. She breathes a sigh of relief as he silently tugs her underwear down, feeling the fabric fall down her legs just before he resumes his position: his palm rough against her clit and his fingers slowly sliding inside her walls.

“How close are you?” he asks against her lips, his tongue teasing hers.

“So - so fucking -” She breaks off into a moan as he moves his hand in a circular motion, giving her exactly the friction she so desperately needs. “Yes, yes…”

Namjoon pulls her closer as she climaxes, kissing her exposed neck and holding her as she screws her eyes shut, breathing heavily as she comes down from her high.

“Shit,” she whispers, eyes fluttering open after a few moments when she feels his hands slide off her. “That was - that was - wait, what are you doing?”

He simply raises an eyebrow as he unbuckles his belt and unbuttons his jeans, his erection straining through the material of his boxers. “What do you think?” he asks, wrapping an arm around her waist and hitching her up on the table. “I’m earning my grade.”

Kaya laughs breathlessly, her heart racing at his strength and the desire in his eyes. “You know this is my office, right?” she tells him as he gently spreads her legs and comes to stand in between them. “I work here.”

“And I work in my studio,” he replies, lowering his head to kiss her. “Didn’t mean I couldn’t take a break.”

It’s true, she agrees privately, kissing him back. The intern bit had gone on only for a few minutes before she’d felt Namjoon’s hand come up from behind her and slide in between her thighs, palming her until she’d silently unbuttoned her jeans in response. He’d fingered her there, too, muttering soothingly that her boyfriend would never find out - that, as his other hand reached up her top to squeeze her breast, her secret was safe with him.

His mouth is on her clit now, sucking softly at the swollen nub. The thought of him on her knees for her, here, in her office, only gets her wet again. His lips, soft and ample, glide through her folds as he holds her legs apart, hands gentle but firm on her thighs.

“God, I want you so bad,” he mutters, standing back up and wiping his mouth. Kaya tugs him closer by the t-shirt, kissing him while he lowers his boxers until she feels his tip on the inside of her thigh. She whimpers in anticipation into his mouth, their lips separating but brushing against each other as he eases himself inside her.

“Yes - oh, God…”

Namjoon feels so big, so thick inside her that she doesn’t even register when he starts moving, his groan low and throaty. She leans back slightly, resting her elbows back on the table so he can get a better angle as he keeps going, his arm tight around her waist.

“Fuck, you feel amazing, baby,” he murmurs at her neck, his voice reverberating through her bones. His lips trail down her collarbone, to her breasts, partially uncovered and moving in rhythm with every whimper she makes. He grabs her other thigh, fucking her harder with each thrust.

“How am I doing?” he asks after a few moments, pulling her up to kiss her again.

“What?” she answers absently, her hands reaching for his neck as she kisses him back. One of her hands glides through his hair and he grunts at the feel of her nails against his scalp.

“How am I doing?” he repeats pulling away slightly and picking up the speed. “Grade-wise?”

“Oh.” She chuckles, pulling playfully at his hair. He suspects she can barely focus on what he’s saying until she meets his eyes, her lips an inch away from his. “B-minus,” she murmurs, her body still moving from the intensity of his thrusts but her gaze steady.

Namjoon’s chest leaps. “Have to fix that,” he mutters, pulling out abruptly. Ignoring her momentary gasp, he picks her up to put her back down on the floor, before holding her shoulders and turning her around until she’s facing the table. She falls forward on her hands in surprise, feeling him sweep her long hair over one shoulder.

He kisses the other shoulder softly, one arm coming protectively around her waist. “Tell me if you want me to stop, okay?” he whispers clearly next to her ear, kissing her cheek tenderly.

Kaya nods, feeling his arm tighten around her and knowing the moment has passed. She bends forward a bit more as he enters her, trying to suppress her groan so it doesn’t carry out of the room but it’s too difficult. He feels incredible; the new angle allows him to hit every nerve ending he couldn’t reach before and he begins moving again, sliding smoothly in and out of her, his low grunts in sync with his movements.

Back then, in his studio, Kaya had been the one to change the tone, turning around on his lap and straddling him on his chair. Ground-breaking music swept aside, she’d rode him in the Big Hit building until they’d both cum together for the first time that afternoon. The walls were soundproof and there had been no fear of being heard; the sounds Namjoon had elicited from her less than hour later when they’d fucked on his couch had been unbelievable, leaving her with legs too shaky to walk herself out after that.

Now, in a quieter work environment, the air is filled with sounds of pleasure; her whimpers increasing in frequency and the soft sounds of skin on skin escaping in between. Namjoon’s hands are tight on her hips, holding her steady as he pounds into her.

Kaya has no opportunity to warn him when she cums again, finally letting herself moan out loud as he hits the spot and she feels the the heat travel from her core to the rest of her body. She shudders and falls forward on her hands, trying to catch her breath as Namjoon keeps going, faster now, his grip on her hips tightening.

“Fuck, baby, I’m gonna cum…” Namjoon’s thrusts are harder, his hips slamming against her until he pushes forward with a muffled groan against her shoulder, followed by two more slower thrusts, emptying himself inside her. As he pulls out slowly, Kaya feels his seed drip down her legs; cringing slightly, she reaches for the box of tissues at the corner of her desk and wipes herself down as Namjoon pulls up his jeans and zips them up.

“Come here,” he murmurs, turning her around gently and capturing her lips in a kiss before she has a chance to respond. It’s less desperate this time, more loving. Kaya, still trying to breathe normally, kisses him back but pulls away quickly.

“I need a moment,” she says tiredly, leaning back against the desk and panting. He chuckles and nods, wrapping his arms around her waist and lowering his head to her shoulder.

“How about now?” Namjoon murmurs against her skin, stroking her back and pressing soft, lingering kisses to her neck. “Did I do better? Oh, hang on.” He notices something on the floor and kneels down.

Kaya’s forehead clears when she remembers. “Oh. I guess you talked yourself into an A,” she ventures, looking down when he taps her leg. It’s her underwear on the floor; a blush creeping up her neck, she awkwardly steps into it, her hands on his shoulders for support. He pulls it up her legs and she adjusts her skirt over it, biting her lip as he stands up again.

“Okay, an A plus,” she allows, giggling as he pulls her back into his arms.

He winks. “I thought so. Although, I really feel like I have to clear this up,” he adds, running a hand through his hair and taking a deep breath. “I was… I was a really good student. A grea student, in fact. I studied really hard and never skipped a class, so I never actually needed to go the extra mile or do anything that -”

Kaya laughs, pushing him away playfully and stepping away from the desk. “I never doubted you, honey. Don’t worry,” she reassures him, rifling through a stack of test papers before stopping. “I still have a quick meeting with Adam about the next class… do you want to wait? Or I can meet you at home?”

Namjoon frowns slightly before shrugging. “I can wait.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah.” He nods, linking his fingers with hers. “I’ll take you out to dinner after, at that place by the river,” he adds, tugging slightly and kissing her cheek.

Kaya chuckles. “You love that place. Alright, I’ll be back in about half an hour, I think.” With a massive effort, she steps away from him and grabs her bag.

“Alright, love you. Oh, wait -” He reaches forward and adjusts the sleeve of her top, covering the corner of a hickey on her chest. “There.”

“Stop it, you already got the grade you wanted,” she teases, walking backwards.

Namjoon grins. “Don’t let him keep you too long,” he warns her as she leaves, “or I might have to come find you and ask for another grade.”

—

Thank you for reading. Don't forget to drop a review :)

#namjoon x oc #namjoon x reader #namjoon fanfic #thebtswritersclub #btshoneyhive #bangtanwhq #bangtantheatrenet #bangtanbathhouse #micdropnet #houseofddaeng #hyunglinenetwork #k-vanity #wkcnet #bts rm fanfic #namjoon smut #bts rm smut

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txttletale · 1 year

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Is worm Homestuck but with superheroes?

not really. in terms of things they have in common, they're both:

extremely long with lots and lots of characters

refreshingly focused on their female characters

bitterly cynical often to the point of open misanthropy

known for constantly upping the stakes

other than that--worm is focused in a way homestuck isn't. worm has one main character who goes through a pretty linear story. worm is, obviously, a deconstruction story from ground up, but it's not really concerned with storytelling and metanarrative in the way that homestuck is.

both hussie and wildbow are good character writers but in very different ways--there's no character in worm with a character voice as immediately distinct and quotable as, say, dave strider or karkat (only a few even come close: rachel, aisha, ashley?)--but worm's characters are much more believably drawn out as three-dimensional human beings.

this reflects that worm takes itself seriously. a huge chunk of what happens in homestuck is hussie saying 'yknow what would be funny?' or deliberately subverting or negating or inverting some narrative expectation. worm's got jokes in but it's not funny (or, if you don't find homestuck funny, written to be funny) in the same way homestuck is. it's much more self-serious and tonally consistent. there's no [homestuck made this world podcast host voice] deflationary move. awful shit happens in worm and then everyone just sits with it. it's a much darker story in tone and in terms of how reality-adjacent the content is.

and--and i can't believe i'm saying this!--homestuck is substantially more progressive than worm in its discussion of gender and sexuality. they're both pretty equally dreadful about race.

there's a bunch of other differences too but these are just the ones that come to mind easily. tldr: i wouldn't really say they're meaningfully similar at all other than being long things online with weird fanbases

#ask #homestuck #worm

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mariacallous · 4 months

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For the past 25 years, Japan’s central bank and government have found common cause in trying to end deflationary pressures that have been seen as a drag on economic growth. Now that they are succeeding, the verdict is in: People don’t like it.

Under standard economic theory, high levels of deficit spending coupled with ultra-low interest rates should almost inevitably lead to higher rates of inflation—usually a problematic outcome for most economies. But Japan has become the poster child for the risks of the opposite problem, persistent price and wage deflation.

Former U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke was a strong advocate of action by the Bank of Japan (BOJ). “Addressing the deflation problem would bring substantial real and psychological benefits to the Japanese economy, and ending deflation would make solving the other problems that Japan faces only that much easier,” he said in an address to the Japan Society of Monetary Economics in May 2003, when he was still just a member of the Fed board. At stake, he said, was not just the economic health of Japan “but also, to a significant degree, the prosperity of the rest of the world.” His worries of a similar deflationary trap in the United States were one of the reasons he would later propose as Fed chairman the massive quantitative easing, or QE, program following the 2007-08 global financial crisis.

To achieve this, the BOJ first tried ultra-low interest rates and, when that failed, zero interest rates and finally negative interest rates. In addition, there were various programs to encourage lending, including special funding to banks that lend to smaller companies with growth potential and to banks that increased their lending by a certain amount. The lending initiatives ran into two primary obstacles: Japanese banks only want to lend money to companies that don’t need it (big companies in Japan sit on massive cash holdings), and with such low rates, the cost of initiating and servicing the loans outweighed the profits in terms of interest payments.

The ultimate plan to defeat all this came from the affable Haruhiko Kuroda, appointed in 2013 by newly elected Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as the head of the BOJ. Kuroda, a former Finance Ministry official who was therefore an outsider within the central bank, threw caution to the wind. He would, he promised, create 2 percent inflation in two years by doubling the BOJ’s balance sheet.

Moving beyond the Fed’s QE, Japan would have QQE, adding in the idea of qualitative to quantitative easing, meaning that the bank would not buy just government bonds but also riskier assets. The result was indeed a massive expansion in the balance sheet, in effect monetizing the government’s steady diet of fiscal overspending equal to around 30 percent of the total budget each year. Even though the balance sheet more than quadrupled over Kuroda’s 10-year term, the idea of a “virtuous cycle” of higher wages driving higher prices remained elusive for almost all of his tenure, with the consumer price index stuck around zero.

This was to change but not because of any central bank policy. Instead, it was due mainly to the world’s recent No. 1 game-changer: COVID-19. With higher import costs and supply chain disruptions, higher prices, albeit at a modest level by global standards, became visible in virtually every sector of the economy. By January 2023, the consumer price index jumped to 4 percent, the highest level since 1981 and well over the 2 percent target set by the BOJ. Within this, hotel prices have surged, rising 63 percent as foreign tourists again pack central Tokyo and Kyoto. For Japanese shoppers, much of the impact has been in the form of “shrinkflation” as food producers try to hide the higher costs. A bag of coffee in central Tokyo can still be found for around $4—it’s just that the same package now holds 40 percent less coffee. No wonder major food packaging companies saw their earnings jump 33 percent last year.

As a result, stagnant wages finally have started to show signs of movement as a shrinking workforce, good economic growth, and skills shortages have bid up salaries. Wages in October 2023 were up 1.5 percent year-on-year, and union workers logged average increases of 3.6 percent in their spring round of labor negotiations.

So why isn’t everyone happy? The reality is that the two growth lines have resulted in a steady decline in real wages adjusted for inflation. According to government figures, real wages fell for 20 consecutive months up to November 2023, registering a 3 percent decline year-on-year.

“People are not stupid,” said Jesper Koll, a global ambassador for the Monex Group and one of Japan’s best-known economists. “The 30 years of deflation have come to an end, but are the Japanese people getting the kind of inflation they want?”

Indeed, while deflation has had policymakers gnashing their teeth as Japan became relatively poorer (some tech jobs pay better in Vietnam than in Japan today), it was good for salaried workers who saw their pay rise modestly while prices would fall around 1 percent annually. The new scenario is more complex. As workers in any inflationary economy can attest, wages almost always rise more slowly than retail prices. One BOJ official in the pre-Kuroda days in 2012 said privately that their surveys showed people preferred deflation even as the central bank was trying to stamp it out.

The sticker shock of rising prices has been an unwanted blow to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who is facing a crisis in confidence for no clear reason—except that people don’t seem to like his administration. Kishida and U.S. President Joe Biden could no doubt commiserate on that front.

Last fall, when the government’s approval ratings fell below the “danger zone” of 30 percent—the figure that often heralds a party search for a fresh face as prime minister—Kishida started handing out cash that the government didn’t have, offering subsidies to limit the impact of higher prices in energy and utilities. Even this backfired badly, raising allegations that he was trying to buy his way back to popularity.

“What people are frustrated with is that he increases spending all the time but has no program to pay for it. The Japanese people are rational with their money—they don’t go out on spending sprees,” Koll said.

Kishida, who took office in October 2021, now has support of just above 20 percent by most polls, with two-thirds of respondents saying they disapprove of his administration. This would normally make him ripe for removal by the party elders who effectively control the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). That has been the model ever since the party was founded in 1955 and helped the LDP to remain in power for all but six years since then.

But Kishida may well survive for a while. The latest in a string of scandals also involves other senior figures in the LDP over potentially illegal fundraising, which has had the effect of shrinking the pool of potential successors. There is also no clear replacement for Kishida who would satisfy both the more liberal and hawkish wings of the party, part of the reason he got the job in the first place.

Another open question is whether Kishida—or a successor—will get to actually see an end to the 25 years of deflationary pressures. The latest inflation figures show a softening in price increases, with core inflation (without fresh food prices) rising just 2.5 percent in November 2023, its lowest in 16 months. That may be good news for consumers, but it has some economists skeptical over whether the economy has really turned the corner toward self-sustaining wage-price increases or if the new figures point to a consumer slowdown that would lead to a downturn. The focus will be on this spring’s union wage negotiations, where both the workers and the government are hopeful that increases will finally put workers ahead of inflation, at least for now. The companies that would have to pay for this have shown less enthusiasm.

But some economists remain skeptical. “I would venture that the wage hike to come during next spring’s negotiations won’t quite reach the level expected,” Takahide Kiuchi, an economist at the Nomura Research Institute and a former BOJ board member, wrote in a November report. He said this may prompt the BOJ to hold off on any changes to its negative rates. Japan remains the only country to maintain ultra-low rates as other advanced economies have switched to tighter money policies as inflation surged.

At the same time, Kiuchi noted, delaying for too long means the bank’s balance sheet will continue to grow as it buys bonds to keep yields at zero or below. This will increase the risks to its own financial position if interest rates rise in the future, since the massive holdings would plummet in value. With the balance sheet now larger than Japan’s annual GDP, the implications could be severe, a polite way of saying that it would face insolvency. If that happened, the government would be forced to bail it out. But the government is already using the BOJ to pay for its own financial excesses.

It’s all enough to leave the average Japanese yearning for the good old days of deflation.

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