By Satoshi Sugiyama

TOKYO (Reuters) -The Bank of Japan will raise interest rates at its upcoming December meeting, according to a slim majority of economists in a Reuters poll, pushing through with its aim of normalising monetary policy, backed by the yen’s recent decline.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, a proponent of expansionary fiscal and monetary policy who came into office a month ago, has urged the BOJ to cooperate with government efforts to reflate the economy and to tread cautiously in hiking rates.

Still, economists say the conditions for a rate hike are falling into place, with the yen’s depreciation strengthening the case. The yen this week has tumbled to a 10-month low against the dollar and the weakest level ever against the euro.

The BOJ last raised rates by 25 basis poin

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