[Sources: Japanese Government Considering Intervention in Oil Futures Market] Market sources revealed on Monday that the Japanese government is considering intervention in the crude oil futures market due to a sharp rise in energy prices caused by the Middle East crisis. Sources said the government has launched an investigation into specific methods for intervention. Previously, amid rising energy prices triggered by the conflict in Iran, executives from several top exchanges expressed their opposition to any potential US government intervention in the crude oil futures market. The Japanese Ministry of Finance has not immediately responded to requests for comment regarding reports of Japanese government action in the oil market.