Japan Financial Services Agency published a summary of Finance Minister Katayama’s post-Cabinet press conference, in which he confirmed Cabinet approval for a 15–19 April trip to the United States to attend the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings and the G7 and G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ meetings. He also addressed questions on market volatility linked to Middle East tensions and on comments by another minister regarding possible Bank of Japan rate hikes. Katayama noted that he would use the G7 and G20 meetings, including several G7-related sessions he co-chairs, to exchange updated assessments of fast-moving developments, including energy market trends and the global economic outlook. On the jump in 10-year Japanese government bond yields to 2.49%, he pointed to government bond management policy and careful dialogue with market participants, adding that auctions were expected to proceed as usual. On monetary policy and inflation, he reiterated that specific methods should be left to the Bank of Japan, and said the government had asked Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Akazawa to refrain from commenting on the Bank of Japan’s policy. He also said the government was taking emergency mitigation steps and expected the Prime Minister to make an announcement on 15 April.
Japan Financial Services Agency 2026-04-16
Japan Financial Services Agency publishes Finance Minister Katayama’s remarks on IMF-World Bank, G7 and G20 meetings and the rise in JGB yields
The Japan Financial Services Agency summarized Finance Minister Katayama’s post-Cabinet press conference, confirming Cabinet approval for his 15–19 April trip to the United States for the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings and the G7 and G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ meetings. Katayama said he would use these meetings to exchange views on fast-moving developments including energy markets and the global economic outlook, and commented that Japanese government bond auctions would proceed as usual despite higher 10-year yields. He reiterated that monetary policy decisions rest with the Bank of Japan and noted the government is taking emergency mitigation steps, with an announcement expected from the Prime Minister on 15 April.