Mitsuhiro Furusawa, IMF's deputy managing director speaking over the weekend to Reuters:

  • Says "If you keep missing your medium- to long-term fiscal target, people will start having doubts" on whether Japan is serious about reining its burgeoning public debt
  • "Delaying the tax hike just because you don't like it won't be too convincing"

On the yen he said it was important to avoid volatility:

  • "Some companies may benefit from a weak yen, while others may not. But for companies to have enough time to adjust their business plans, it's important that the yen doesn't move too rapidly"
  • "Policymakers would need to respond to excessive volatility or disorderly currency moves. Otherwise, currency rates should basically be determined by markets"

more at the link, above