BoJ Minutes from the March 18th-19th meeting stated that many members shared the view that it was appropriate to maintain the policy rate at 0.75%

Members said there was concern about the resurgence of inflation stemming from rising oil prices. A few members within the BOJ said that given the heightened uncertainties surrounding the situation in the Middle East, it was appropriate to keep policy rates steady at this meeting. One member said that the BOJ should adjust its significantly negative real interest rates relatively soon. Members concurred that the BOJ should keep raising interest rates in accordance with improvements in economy and prices. One member said that the next policy meeting onwards, the BOJ should assess in detail whether financial conditions remained accommodative after the previous rate hike. One member said that with policy rates still far away from neutral, falling behind the curve on inflation risks would compel the BoJ to pursue rapid and significant monetary tightening.