He said a boost from the weak yen to exports has faded as the Japanese currency rebounded sharply in August.
Total exports rose 5.6% year-on-year in August, up for a ninth straight month, data showed on Wednesday, well below a median market forecast for a 10% increase and following a 10.3% rise in July.
Exports to the United States dipped 0.7%, the first monthly decline in nearly three years, as auto sales slumped 14.2%.
Those to China, Japan's biggest trading partner, rose 5.2% in August from a year earlier.
The value of imports grew 2.3% in August from a year earlier, versus a 13.4% increase expected by economists.
Persons:
Takeshi Minami
Organizations:
Asahi, Co, Bloomberg, Getty, U.S, Norinchukin Research
Locations:
Hekinan, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, U.S, China, United States