Svmuu reported that Bank of Japan board member Hajime Takata has called for an early interest rate hike, provided there are no signs of economic distress. He noted that due to the conflict in Iran, inflation risks are becoming more persistent. "If the data does not clearly indicate an economic downturn, I believe it is appropriate to raise rates as soon as possible," Takata said. He stated that while the rise in fuel prices caused by the Middle East conflict might be temporary, there is also a risk that it could accelerate Japan's "already rising" logistics costs. "There are concerns that these factors may not be temporary shocks but represent a more persistent trend, posing a risk of pushing up prices," Takata said. (Jin Shi)