Japan's Kan: govt to keep close contact with BOJ

TOKYO, Nov 24 - Japanese National Strategy Minister Naoto Kan said on Tuesday the government wants to make sure it is in close contact with the Bank of Japan.

"The government has kept up communications with the BOJ and it wants to continue having close contact in the future," Kan, who is also deputy prime minister, told a news conference after a cabinet meeting.

Fellow cabinet member Shizuka Kamei, the banking minister, said earlier the central bank was not paying attention to actual economic conditions, accusing it of being asleep. ((rie.ishiguro@thomsonreuters.com; +81 3 6441 1885; Reuters Messaging: rie.ishiguro.reuters.com@reuters.net)) ((If you have a query or comment on this story, send an email to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com))