FACTBOX-Japan policymakers comment on dollar/yen 12-yr low

March 14 (Reuters) - The dollar sank below 100 yen on Thursday for the first time in more than a decade, prompting Japanese officials to say they are keeping a close eye on the yen's surge that has slammed the Tokyo stock market this year. [nYEN]

Following are key comments by Japanese government officials on the dollar's decline against the yen:

NOBUTAKA MACHIMURA, CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY, March 14, from news conference:

"The government's stance is to refrain from commenting on specific exchange rate and stock price levels.

"But as the Group of Seven communique says, too rapid (currency) moves are undesirable for global economic growth.

"I get the impression that recent moves are quite rapid but from a global perspective, they seem to reflect dollar weakness rather than yen strength.

"(U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry) Paulson has repeated anew that a strong dollar was in the U.S. national interest. We are paying attention to such comments.

"As for currency intervention, I will not comment."

FUKUSHIRO NUKAGA, FINANCE MINISTER, March 14, from news conference: