BOJ deputy Himino drives home inflation risks, stops short of hike hint

Bank of JapanYen steady, bond yields choppy as markets price in September rate riseBank of Japan Deputy Gov. Ryozo Himino said in a meeting with business leaders in Saitama prefecture on Aug. 27 that the Middle East conflict, demand for funds for the buildout of artificial intelligence and the weaker yen could raise inflation. (Photo by Kosuke Takeuchi)JADA NAGUMOAugust 27, 2026 15:31 JSTTOKYO -- Bank of Japan's Deputy Gov. Ryozo Himino on Thursday underscored the risk of higher-than-expected inflation, reinforcing market expectations for further monetary tightening, while avoiding any direct signal on a September interest rate hike.