The Bank of Japan's first rate hike in 17 years may set the stage for tackling a perceived negative legacy of its ultraloose monetary policy that has allowed many unprofitable "zombie" companies to stay afloat, potentially creating room for more economic growth.The coronavirus pandemic, in particular, pushed up the number of such zombie firms -- companies barely surviving despite being unable to cover debt-serving costs with profits -- amid the government's massive financial stimulus to small and medium-sized companies.While the BOJ made clear that the accommodative financial conditions wil…READ FULL ARTICLE