Shigeta Kazuo: If inflation accelerates as expected and approaches the 2% target, the Bank of Japan will continue to raise interest rates.

The Governor of the Bank of Japan, Haruhiko Kuroda, said on Friday that if potential inflation approaches the 2% target as expected, the Bank of Japan will continue to raise interest rates. However, Kuroda also told Japanese lawmakers that the Bank of Japan will carefully review economic trends without preconceived notions, given the uncertainty caused by US tariff impacts. It is reported that the Bank of Japan will hold a monetary policy meeting from April 30th to May 1st and announce economic forecasts. Consumer inflation in Japan rose last month, partly due to a sharp increase in the price of rice. The sustained high inflation supports the Bank of Japan's stance on further interest rate hikes, but the shadow of US tariff policies complicates the monetary policy outlook.