The Japanese yen continues to struggle to attract buyers, as uncertainty surrounding the Bank of Japan's monetary policy persists. On Monday, the Bank released its "Summary of Opinions," which revealed internal divisions among policymakers regarding the outlook for future interest rate hikes.

In addition, Junko Nakagawa, a member of the Bank of Japan's Board of Directors, emphasized that the central bank intends to maintain a cautious approach when making new policy decisions. These statements have reinforced market expectations that the Bank of Japan may delay rate hikes, especially given the plans of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's new government to implement large-scale stimulus measures, which in turn supports those favoring a weaker yen.

Meanwhile, the recent optimism surrounding the potential end of the U.S. government shutdown has become another factor limiting demand for the yen as a safe-haven asset, keeping the USD/JPY pair above the 154.00 level. However, expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut later this year could cap further gains for the U.S. dollar in the USD/JPY pair.

There is also ongoing uncertainty about potential Japanese government interventions aimed at curbing further yen depreciation. This creates additional risks for investors and calls for a cautious approach, as the market remains largely neutral while assessing the prospects for further USD/JPY growth.

The Summary of Opinions from the Bank of Japan's October meeting, published Monday, indicated that policymakers expect another rate hike in the near future. However, there remains uncertainty about how Prime Minister Takaichi's new administrative policies will affect the economy and inflation. Several board members also noted that U.S. tariff hikes and rising wages in Japanese corporations play a key role in determining the timing of the next rate increase.

Board member Junko Nakagawa warned about weak domestic consumption and expressed concerns regarding the U.S. economic outlook. Recent data suggest that current economic conditions may be putting pressure on consumer spending, raising speculation that a decline in domestic demand could restrain inflation driven by demand growth. This adds further uncertainty to the Bank of Japan's policy outlook and continues to weigh on the yen.

On Tuesday, Japan's Ministry of Economy stated that the government is increasingly aware of how rising inflation is eroding consumers' purchasing power and intends to take measures to mitigate the impact. Minoru Kiuchi added that a weaker yen is contributing to higher import costs and rising consumer prices.

On Sunday evening, the U.S. Senate crossed a key milestone by beginning debate on a proposal to resume federal funding and end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. This development provided additional support for risk assets and had a negative impact on the yen, which traditionally serves as a safe-haven currency.

At the same time, expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut in December limit the dollar's potential for further strengthening.

From a technical standpoint, for the USD/JPY pair to continue rising, it must break above the key resistance zone of 154.50. A sustained move beyond this level would give bulls fresh momentum, targeting higher marks such as 155.00, 155.60, and 156.00.

On the other hand, a pullback below the 154.00 level could be seen as a buying opportunity near the 153.60–153.50 level, which would help limit the pair's decline toward the 153.00 round level. However, a decisive break below this area would open the way to deeper losses, with the 152.00 level serving as a solid base for the currency pair in the near term.