Group 1 - Japan's Ministry of Finance has requested a record 32.4 trillion yen (approximately 219 billion USD) for debt repayment in the next fiscal year, reflecting the impact of rising government bond yields on public finances [1][2] - The requested amount represents a 15% increase compared to the initial budget of the previous fiscal year, significantly exceeding the 3% inflation rate during the same period [1] - Debt repayment expenditures currently account for about one-quarter of Japan's national budget, indicating a growing financial burden on the government [1] Group 2 - The total budget request from the Ministry of Finance amounts to 34.1 trillion yen, with the majority allocated for debt servicing and a small portion for overseas development assistance [2] - Japan, as one of the developed economies with the heaviest debt burden, faces increasing costs due to an aging population and expanding social security needs [2] - The Bank of Japan's gradual interest rate hikes have directly increased government debt costs, with the 10-year government bond yield reaching its highest level since the 2008 financial crisis [2]

Core Viewpoint - The Federal Reserve's mission is focused on employment and price stability, not on reducing government debt costs through interest rate cuts [1] Group 1 - Goolsbee from the Federal Reserve expressed confusion over the argument that the Fed should lower interest rates to reduce government debt costs [1] - The Federal Reserve's mandate is primarily concerned with employment and inflation control [1]