Japan Spent $36.6 Billion Propping Up the Yen — It Barely Helped

Japan spent $36.58 billion buying its own currency, the yen, in early August 2026 to strengthen it against the dollar. The yen briefly hit a three-month high, then slipped back. By August 14 it sat at 159.37 per dollar, down about 1% for the week — almost where it started. The money bought time, not a lasting fix.