BOJ Mizuno: Fog over Japan economy won't clear soon

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AOMORI, Japan, July 24 (Reuters) - Bank of Japan Policy Board member Atsushi Mizuno said on Thursday that the fog hanging over Japan's economy was unlikely to clear any time soon.

Rises in energy and raw materials prices have had a far larger impact both on the economy and prices than the BOJ had expected when it drew up half-yearly forecasts for the economy in April, Mizuno said in a speech to business leaders in Aomori, northern Japan.

Mizuno is considered as one of the most hawkish on the central bank's policy board. (Reporting by Hideyuki Sano)