Bank of Japan Gov. Masaaki Shirakawa pushed back Tuesday against pressure on the central bank, criticizing the unlimited easing advocated by opposition leader Shinzo Abe and urging respect for the BOJ's independence.
"I seek respect for the BOJ's independence as it's doing its utmost to conduct appropriate monetary policy," Shirakawa said.
Without naming Abe, Shirakawa said that unlimited money-printing could worsen the national debt and that a 3 percent inflation goal, also suggested by the head of the Liberal Democratic Party, would be unrealistic.