Finance Minister Masajuro Shiokawa said Tuesday he expects the Bank of Japan to respond appropriately to current economic conditions but monetary policy remains in the realm of the central bank.
"It's not proper for me to talk about monetary policy," Shiokawa told a regular news conference. "I think Gov. (Masaru) Hayami and the BOJ staff will take proper policy measures."
Taku Yamasaki, secretary general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, pressured the BOJ on Monday to take more steps toward monetary easing.