Finmin says Japan must watch economic backdrop to calls for BOJ rate hike

TOKYO, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Japan's Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato said on Friday the government must closely watch the economic and price backdrop behind recent business sector calls for the central bank to raise interest rates.

But specific monetary policy decisions were up to the Bank of Japan, he said at a news conference.

Kato declined to comment when asked about U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's remarks that the BOJ is likely to raise rates as it was behind the curve in tackling inflation risks.