Ex-Board Member Who Just Left BOJ Sees Chance of May Rate Hike

A former Bank of Japan board member who just finished his term said that unless US tariffs trigger global market turmoil, the central bank could raise its benchmark rate at its next policy meeting, given Japan’s improving inflation dynamics.

“I would probably vote for a rate hike at the May gathering if proposed,” Seiji Adachi said Wednesday in his first interview following the end of his five-year term last week. “It’s probably better to move now if the financial market is calm.”