Japan imports jump to record high on oil price surge, complicating BOJ policy

TOKYO, July 22 : Japan's imports jumped to a record high in June, government data showed on Wednesday, as a weak yen and soaring oil prices drove up import costs and inflation, leaving the central bank in a policy bind. The swelling import bill has become a growing concern for policymakers, with the yen's weakness amplifying inflationary pressures even as officials seek to safeguard a fragile economic recovery.The Bank of Japan is widely expected to leave interest rates unchanged at next week's policy meeting. But the central bank is likely to maintain its tightening bias, as the combination of a weak currency and higher energy costs continues to fuel inflation risks.The value of imports surged 25.4 per cent in June from a year earlier to a record 11.3 trillion yen ($69.25 billion), driven