FOCUS: Japan GDP to fall behind India in 2026, hit by weak yen, tourism slowdown

TOKYO - Japan's economy is likely to fall behind India's in 2026 to fifth place in the world, according to an International Monetary Fund's estimate, potentially diminishing the East Asian nation's presence on the global stage.

The subdued economic outlook makes Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's planned growth strategy, due out in the summer, all the more important to combat the burden from the country's shrinking population, economists say. They call for productivity improvements and further efforts to tap into promising growth fields.