Japan's inflation surge is picking up steam. November saw prices climb 2.9% year-over-year—the second-highest jump since July. When you strip out fresh food prices, core inflation actually pushed higher at 3.0% YoY. Here's what's more striking: this marks 44 straight months of inflation sitting above the Bank of Japan's 2% target. For anyone tracking how global monetary policy shifts ripple through crypto markets, Japan's persistent inflation story matters. It signals ongoing pressure on central banks and hints at how aggressively policy might need to tighten or stay restrictive. That kind of macro backdrop tends to shape investor sentiment across all asset classes, crypto included.