Japan's government on Friday brushed aside rare and explicit comments from U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent who said the Bank of Japan was "behind the curve" on policy, which appeared to be aimed at pressuring the country's central bank into raising interest rates.

Japan’s chief trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa said US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent isn’t directly asking Japan to hike interest rates, a day after Bessent moved markets by describing the Bank of Japan as being behind the curve in fighting inflation.