The decision came as the central bank seeks to wean its economy off the long-held ultra-easy monetary policy and curb the yen's slide against the U.S. dollar.

The Bank of Japan left its short-term policy rate unchanged Friday as it examines how the economy and markets are digesting its most recent interest-rate increase.

The Bank of Japan kept interest rates steady today and revised up its assessment on consumption, signalling its confidence a solid economic recovery would allow the central bank to raise interest rates again in coming months.