Former Bank of Japan Economist Sees Rates Reaching 2% After December Move

Tokyo, 6 November 2026 – Seisaku Kameda, a former chief economist at the Bank of Japan, said on Friday that the central bank could raise its policy rate from 1.25% to 1.50% in December and continue raising it in 2027 until it reaches 2%. Kameda, now an economist at Sompo Institute Plus, said persistent market volatility could delay the first increase. The Bank of Japan has not announced a December rise or set a 2% policy-rate goal.

For Asian businesses and investors, the difference between the next rate decision and the path beyond it matters. One increase would change the near-term cost of borrowing in yen. A succession of increases could also affect the relative appeal of Japanese bonds and overseas assets. Kameda’s forecast offers a scenario to assess, but the central bank’s October decision and the data available to its board are the basis for judging what it might actually do.