Japan's foreign exchange reserves hit a record high $397.02 billion at the end of September, up $24.80 billion from the previous high set in August, the Finance Ministry said Friday.
The ministry attributed the gain mainly to a series of yen-selling, dollar-buying interventions by the Bank of Japan in the foreign exchange markets since Sept. 17.
The foreign reserves consist of securities and deposits denominated in foreign currencies, International Monetary Fund reserve positions, IMF special drawing rights and gold.
Japan had $302.77 billion in foreign securities and $77.90 billion in foreign currency deposits.
Of the deposits, $9.05 billion were at foreign central banks and the Swiss-based Bank for International Settlements, $42.55 billion at Japanese banks and $26.31 billion at foreign banks.
Japan also had $6.66 billion in IMF reserve positions, $2.48 billion in IMF SDRs and $7.21 billion in gold.
Japan was the largest holder of foreign reserves of any country or territory for the 22nd consecutive month, based on the data available at the end of September, ministry officials said.