FACTBOX-Recent comments on Japan monetary policy, economy

(For more stories on the Japanese economy, click [ID:nECONJP])

Aug 11 (Reuters) - The Bank of Japan is seen keeping monetary policy on hold on Tuesday as it examines how deepening deflation and weak corporate spending could affect its forecast for a modest economic pickup later this year.

The central bank looks poised to keep its overnight call rate target at 0.1 percent and hold off on new policy initiatives after the two-day rate review.

Following are recent key comments by BOJ and Japanese government officials on monetary policy and the economy:

FINANCE MINISTER KAORU YOSANO, Aug 4, news conference:

"Governments cannot control long-term interest rate levels ... It is determined by markets, reflecting expectations of growth and inflation.

"The recent moves have been trifling. I'm not particularly concerned about them."

ECONOMICS MINISTER YOSHIMASA HAYASHI, Aug 4, news conference:

"I realise that core CPI is falling a lot when compared with the previous year.

"However, if you look at so-called core-core prices compared with the previous month, they show it's too early to say we are in deflation."

BOJ POLICY BOARD MEMBER TADAO NODA, July 30, in Matsumoto:

"Maintaining the unconventional steps for an unnecessarily long period of time could hamper an autonomous adjustment of financial markets and the economy, causing big swings in the economy and prices ... On the other hand, changing policy too early could cause problems, so we of course need to avoid that.

"The BOJ has policy tools only to influence short-term interest rates, basically through a target rate ... But we don't have any policy tools that would directly influence so-called long-term interest rates."

BOJ DEPUTY GOVERNOR HIROHIDE YAMAGUCHI, July 22, in Hakodate:

"The economy is expected to head towards what the BOJ sees as price stability. As such, I don't see the need to take further policy action.

"With regard to future developments in corporate financing, there is uncertainty about whether these signs of improvement will become widespread.