Bank of Japan policymakers view further monetary easing to shore up inflation as a counterproductive step at present, amid concern it could trigger declines in the yen that damage confidence, sources said.

The yen strengthened after the remarks, which indicate a possible shift in thinking on the exchange rate among officials at the BOJ after the yen's 22 percent tumble since the bank began unprecedented easing nearly two years ago.

Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda in December offered a balanced view, saying a weak yen tends to boost profits of global companies and weighs on households and small firms.