{
  "id": 3674857,
  "title": "BOJ deputy chief keeps door open to September rate increase",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/boj-deputy-chief-keeps-door-open-to-september-rate-increase",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-27T05:12:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Japan Times",
    "slug": "japan-times",
    "url": "https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/08/27/boj-deputy-chief-september-rate-increase/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Bank of Japan Deputy Governor Ryozo Himino has indicated that a September rate increase remains a possibility, despite existing expectations. In a speech to local business leaders in Saitama, Himino warned that rising inflation could negatively impact the economy if it exceeds the Bank of Japan's 2% price stability target. He stressed the importance of considering upside price risks during each monetary policy meeting. Overnight index swaps suggest an 85% chance of a rate hike in September before the speech. Inflation pressures have been rising due to the ongoing Middle East conflict and the yen's weakness, which imports nearly all of Japan's oil and over half of its food. The yen slid slightly following Himino's remarks, trading around ¥159.30 per dollar, likely reflecting the market's expectations for a September increase. Himino's call for thorough deliberations at each meeting stands in contrast to his more reserved comments before a rate hike in January 2025. Despite Japan and the U.S. intervening in the currency market earlier this month, the yen remains near the ¥160 per dollar level. Former BOJ Board Member Seiji Adachi has suggested a September rate hike is highly likely. Investors will have more data points to evaluate the situation ahead of the BOJ's two-day policy meeting, with Governor Kazuo Ueda likely to speak at a news conference following the Group of 20 summit, followed by remarks from board members Hajime Takata and Kazuyuki Masu. A September rate increase would be the shortest interval between hikes during Ueda's tenure, suggesting a faster pace of normalization compared to the past six-month cycle.",
  "summary": "The Bank of Japan is confronting mounting inflationary pressures as the Middle East conflict drags on, compounded by persistent yen weakness.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}