BOJ’s Takata Says Now a ‘Prime Opportunity’ to Raise Rates

Bank of Japan policy board member Hajime Takata called for an interest-rate increase, saying that tariff-related concerns have eased and that the central bank’s inflation goal is nearly met.

“I have come to believe that it is vital to address the situation focusing on the level of headline inflation, which has already remained at 2% and above for the past three and a half years,” Takata said in a speech Monday. “I believe that now is a prime opportunity to raise the policy interest rate.”