The Bank of Japan must raise short-term interest rates to at least 1% by the second half of fiscal 2025 to contain inflation risks, board member Naoki Tamura said on Thursday.

In a speech to business leaders, Naoki Tamura said that the central bank should raise rates to 1% or higher in the fiscal half starting in October.

Japan’s real rates clearly remain in negative territory even with last week’s interest rate hike, and the Bank of Japan will keep raising rates if its economic outlook is realized, according to Deputy Governor Ryozo Himino.

The Bank of Japan will continue to raise interest rates if underlying inflation accelerates toward its 2% target as projected, a senior central bank official said on Wednesday.