Falling shares around the world
When Abenomics was launched and large-scale QE introduced to much fanfare a few years ago, the bold message communicated was we could expect monetary policy easing on a scale not previously seen.
In Asia, there is a tradition of naming the year after one of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac - 2016 is the year of the monkey.
The Bank of Japan has cut interest rates to -0.1% as policymakers try to keep their economic plans intact in the face of global headwinds.
Japan's equity markets topped performance charts last year, despite ongoing concerns about the effectiveness of Abenomics and the impact of China's slowdown.
Japan remains a cyclical market due to its large exposure to global manufacturing sectors relative to other major markets, as well as relative to its own economy.
Equity markets across the globe have staged a come-back after falling into a bear market earlier this week, boosted by hopes of further stimulus measures from the ECB and a 6% rise in oil prices.