Japan Will Keep Working With U.S. to Ensure Orderly FX Market, Finance Minister Says

By Megumi Fujikawa

TOKYO--Japan will continue to coordinate with the U.S. to ensure stability in the foreign-exchange market, the finance minister said, as the yen rallies after a period of extended weakness.

"We will maintain close communication with the U.S. Treasury and work to preserve order in the foreign-exchange market," Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said at a news conference Tuesday.

"Our policy stance has not changed at all since we conducted joint currency intervention with the U.S.," she said, referring to the countries' historic coordinated move to buoy the yen.

The comments came as the yen appreciated sharply against the dollar, now trading at nearly seven-month highs as investors price in an imminent interest-rate increase by the Bank of Japan this month, and the possibility of faster monetary tightening.

The yen strengthened to around 152.95 per dollar on Tuesday trade, its highest level since February, according to data provider Quick.

Aside from expectations of further BOJ rate hikes, remarks from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent that investors interpreted as pushing Japan to raise interest rates have also supported the yen.

While Katayama declined to comment on specific exchange-rate levels, her emphasis on maintaining orderly market conditions reflects continued concern over one-sided, speculative yen movements that could disrupt business planning and raise import costs.

Write to Megumi Fujikawa at megumi.fujikawa@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 07, 2026 22:42 ET (02:42 GMT)