Japan's former currency czar Eisuke Sakakibara speaks at an interview with Reuters in Tokyo, Japan February 6, 2017.
Sakakibara gained a reputation as a market mover in the 1990s after devising several currency interventions during his time as vice finance minister, earning him the nickname "Mr Yen".
Sakakibara takes Bank of Japan head Kazuo Ueda at his word that easy policy will be retained for the time being.
Japan's Ministry of Finance intervened in October when the yen slipped to 149.70 against the dollar, and speculation grew that the currency could tumble further.
While the chance that the yen weakens further against the dollar can't be completely dismissed, Sakakibara believes the "tide has changed" for dollar-yen.
Persons:
Eisuke Sakakibara, Kim Kyung, Sakakibara, Mr Yen, Kazuo Ueda, Brigid Riley, Hiroko Hamada, Shri Navaratnam
Organizations:
Reuters, REUTERS, U.S, U.S . Federal Reserve, of Finance, Bank of Japan, Fed, Bank, Japan, Japan's Ministry of Finance, Thomson
Locations:
Tokyo, Japan, U.S, Japan's