Kiuchi said reports that Prime Minister Takaichi's government is attempting to
steer interest rates lower are incorrect and the government has no intention of
pressuring the Bank of Japan to ease policy. He spoke in Tokyo as markets watch
how Takaichi plans large-scale investment without increasing Japan's already
heavy debt burden. Kiuchi said he attended last month's BOJ policy meeting as a
government representative, where policymakers raised the benchmark rate to 1% —
the highest in 31 years.
