BoJ's Tamura Sees Scope for Policy Tightening Amid Sticky Inflation

Bank of Japan (BoJ) board member Naoki Tamura recently indicated that Japan's inflation is becoming "endogenous and sticky," increasingly driven by domestic factors. Tamura highlighted that rising labor costs, rather than imported cost shocks, are now the primary drivers of price increases. He affirmed that the wage-price cycle, which the central bank aims to establish, remains robust. Crucially, Tamura stated that he sees clear scope for the BoJ to tighten its monetary policy. These comments suggest a growing conviction within the central bank regarding the sustainability of inflation. Such hawkish remarks could influence market expectations for future policy adjustments by the BoJ.