The Japan Financial Services Agency published a summary of a press conference in which Finance Minister Katayama said he will attend the G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting in France from May 17 to 20, with discussions expected to cover crude oil price shocks, market volatility, critical minerals, global imbalances, and related fertilizer and food supply risks. He also said Japan is monitoring the domestic impact of higher energy prices but is relying on existing support measures and contingency funding for now. Electricity and gas tariffs are based on fuel import prices from two to four months earlier, so he said no immediate rise is expected at present. Emergency measures to cushion gasoline price swings have been in place since March and are funded through contingency resources, with JPY 1 trillion in contingency funding available in the approved budget if needed. Katayama added that recent increases in bond yields and renewed yen weakness would be discussed at the G7, and that the meeting could also address fertilizer and food risks, including keeping supplies moving to Africa and South Asia, if Middle East tensions persist.
Japan Financial Services Agency2026-05-15
Japan Financial Services Agency publishes Finance Minister Katayama's remarks on G7 market risks and existing energy support funding
The Japan Financial Services Agency published a press conference summary in which Finance Minister Katayama said he will attend the G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting in France, where discussions are expected to cover crude oil price shocks, market volatility, critical minerals, global imbalances, and fertilizer and food supply risks. He said Japan is monitoring the domestic impact of higher energy prices but expects no immediate rise in electricity and gas tariffs, and is relying on existing gasoline support measures. Katayama added that recent bond yield increases and yen weakness will be discussed at the G7.