US and Japan Conduct Joint Yen‑Buying Intervention to Halt Yen Decline FAST-MOVING

US‑Japan yen intervention Scott Bessent handwritten note Donald Trump signal of friendship yen depreciation FIMA repo facility

The United States Treasury and Japan’s Finance Ministry carried out a coordinated yen‑buying intervention on August 2‑3 2026, the first joint action since the 2011 earthquake. The move was intended to counter “excessive volatility and disorderly movements” in the yen, which had fallen to 40‑year lows near ¥164 per dollar. President Donald Trump described the operation as a “signal of friendship” that also benefits the world economy. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was photographed with a handwritten note to purchase $5‑10 billion of yen, and the intervention involved buying yen in New York markets, with estimates that up to $58.97 billion may have been spent. Japan’s finance minister Satsuki Katayama confirmed the joint action and said the governments would not hesitate to act again. The yen rose to about ¥157 per dollar after the intervention. Japan’s record‑breaking currency support program between 28 April and 27 May 2026 totaled ¥11.73 trillion. The operation also used the Federal Reserve’s FIMA repo facility, and Treasury Secretary Bessent later urged that the facility be enlarged for future market stress.

Entities: Donald Trump · Iran · Japan · Japan (government) · Satoshi Katayama · Satsuki Katayama · Scott Bessent · Scott Besson · United States · United States (Treasury Department)

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 3 SOURCES] A previously planned U.S. airstrike on Iran was cancelled after the agreement was reached. (existing)
[● 2 SOURCES] The yen rose from about ¥164 per dollar to about ¥157.4 after the intervention. (existing)
[● 5 SOURCES] Japan announced a joint U.S.–Japan yen‑buying intervention on March 3. (existing)
[● 2 SOURCES] Trump said the United States reached an agreement with Iran on opening the Strait of Hormuz. (existing)
[● 2 SOURCES] The United States and Japan coordinated a joint purchase of yen, with Treasury Secretary Scott Besson noting a $50‑100 billion buy‑back. (existing)
[● 10 SOURCES] Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had a handwritten note to buy $5‑10 billion of yen. (Bessent note)
[● 5 SOURCES] The United States intervened in the yen market as a “signal of friendship” toward Japan. (existing)
[● 2 SOURCES] Talks with Iran were scheduled to begin on the 3rd of the month. (existing)
[○ 1 SOURCE] U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with Japanese officials in May 2026 to discuss currency policy. (d2cee930-d47d-4a5e-91b7-04c60df3e258)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Metaplanet began adding Bitcoin to its corporate reserves as a hedge against yen depreciation. (d2cee930-d47d-4a5e-91b7-04c60df3e258)
[○ 1 SOURCE] The yen rose to about 157.16 per U.S. dollar in early Sydney trading. (ac37d375-13d1-4ace-9d7b-22c43aa85bd4)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama announced coordination with the U.S. Treasury on yen intervention. (ac37d375-13d1-4ace-9d7b-22c43aa85bd4)