BOJ Likely to Hold Rates Until March as Tokyo Prepares ¥20 Trillion Stimulus
Japan’s monetary policy path looks set to remain steady into early next year. A senior economic adviser to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi signaled the Bank of Japan is unlikely to raise interest rates before March, arguing policymakers must first see clear evidence that a large fiscal package is lifting domestic demand.
Goushi Kataoka, a former BOJ board member who now sits on Takaichi’s economic strategy panel, said he expects a supplementary budget of roughly ¥20 trillion—significantly larger than last year’s ¥13.9 trillion. If the stimulus is implemented swiftly and effectively, he believes it could bolster spending early next year, creating room for the central bank to consider a rate hike as soon as March. Until then, he suggested, the BOJ should prioritize confirming the impact of fiscal support on growth and inflation.
Kataoka cautioned that Japan’s economy “is not necessarily in a favorable state,” citing a contraction in third-quarter GDP and core inflation—excluding food and energy—still running below the 2% target. On that basis, a January move looks unlikely. His remarks echo recent comments from former Deputy Governor Masazumi Wakatabe, underscoring the gap between market hopes for earlier tightening and calls from policy veterans to wait for stronger data.
Prime Minister Takaichi met BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda this week, with Ueda outlining the bank’s gradual normalization strategy. According to Kataoka, Takaichi understands the approach and is not expected to pressure the BOJ at its December 19 meeting, despite her past criticism of rate increases. The message: monetary policy will remain data-dependent, with fiscal stimulus expected to set the stage for any eventual rate hike.
Key Points: – BOJ is unlikely to raise interest rates before March, according to a senior adviser to Prime Minister Takaichi – Goushi Kataoka expects a supplementary budget of about ¥20 trillion, larger than last year’s ¥13.9 trillion package – Effective deployment of fiscal stimulus could enable a rate hike as soon as March – Japan’s Q3 GDP contracted and core inflation (excluding food and energy) remains below 2% – Former Deputy Governor Masazumi Wakatabe also urged caution amid weak economic conditions – PM Takaichi met Governor Ueda and is not expected to pressure the BOJ at its December 19 policy meeting
