<p>Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga on Wednesday voiced his readiness to have the central bank take additional monetary easing steps to protect jobs, if he were to become prime minister.</p>.<p>He also said there were "too many regional banks" in Japan, suggesting that he would prod them to consolidate if were to win a ruling party leadership race on Sept. 14, which would almost certainly result in him becoming prime minister.</p>.<p>"We'll look at developments and if it's necessary to protect jobs, I'd like to promote further monetary policy (steps) because the economy is at a critical juncture," Suga told a news conference after announcing his decision to run for leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).</p>.<p>The leader of the party is almost bound to become prime minister because of its majority in parliament.</p>.<p>On economic policy, Suga said he would "maintain and push forward" the "Abenomics" stimulus policies pursued by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe aimed at pulling Japan out of deflation.</p>.<p>"Even when the economy is in such a severe state, we were able to create more jobs, the yen is stable around 105 (to the dollar) and the (Nikkei) stock average is around 20,000," he said.</p>.<p>Abe announced last Friday he was stepping down because of poor health.</p>
<p>Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga on Wednesday voiced his readiness to have the central bank take additional monetary easing steps to protect jobs, if he were to become prime minister.</p>.<p>He also said there were "too many regional banks" in Japan, suggesting that he would prod them to consolidate if were to win a ruling party leadership race on Sept. 14, which would almost certainly result in him becoming prime minister.</p>.<p>"We'll look at developments and if it's necessary to protect jobs, I'd like to promote further monetary policy (steps) because the economy is at a critical juncture," Suga told a news conference after announcing his decision to run for leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).</p>.<p>The leader of the party is almost bound to become prime minister because of its majority in parliament.</p>.<p>On economic policy, Suga said he would "maintain and push forward" the "Abenomics" stimulus policies pursued by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe aimed at pulling Japan out of deflation.</p>.<p>"Even when the economy is in such a severe state, we were able to create more jobs, the yen is stable around 105 (to the dollar) and the (Nikkei) stock average is around 20,000," he said.</p>.<p>Abe announced last Friday he was stepping down because of poor health.</p>