TOKYO — “Japan’s New Currency Diplomat Considers Yen Intervention”, Japan’s new top currency diplomat, Atsushi Mimura, told Reuters that the country will maintain its current stance on the yen, with intervention remaining a potential tool to address excessive volatility in the exchange rate.
Mimura stated, “Japan will adhere to international commitments that exchange rates should be market-determined, but excessive volatility or disorderly movements can harm economic and financial stability,” in an interview on Tuesday.
“It has been internationally agreed that measures including interventions are allowed when necessary,” he added.
Previously head of the ministry’s international bureau, the 57-year-old became vice finance minister for international affairs on Wednesday – a post that oversees Japan’s currency policy and coordinates economic policy with other countries.
Mimura’s appointment comes as the Japanese currency shows tentative signs of recovery from 38-year lows, as investors unwound their long-running bets against the currency ahead of a Bank of Japan meeting this week.
While a weak yen gives exports a boost, it has become a source of concern for policymakers by pushing up the cost of imports and hurting consumption.
His predecessor, Masato Kanda led massive bouts of yen-buying intervention in 2022 and 2024 during three years in the position and was also known to aggressively warn markets against pushing down the yen.
“A change in vice finance minister for international affairs doesn’t mean a change in basic policy for not just foreign exchange but various things as they are decided by the finance ministry as an institution,” Mimura said.
He declined to comment on the current market situation, saying that such comments could have an unforeseen impact on markets.
Mimura, meanwhile, hinted at a potential change in the style of communications with markets.
