Sustained achievement of price goal 39;clearly in sight39; Tamura
Good chance of inflation overshoot as firms hike prices Tamura
BOJ must keep low rates for now, scrutinise wage and price data
BOJ may have more clarity Q1 next year on wage, price outlook

KUSHIRO, Japan, Aug 30 Reuters After a decade of massive monetary stimulus, Japan39;s inflation is clearly in sight of the central bank39;s target, its board member Naoki Tamura said on Wednesday, signalling conditions for phasing out ultraloose policy could be met early next year.

While Tamura is considered by markets as a hawk within the Bank of Japan39;s BOJ ninemember board, his remarks suggest that discussions on the timing for dismantling the BOJ39;s radical stimulus will intensify in coming months.

Although inflation already exceeds its 2 target, the BOJ has pledged to maintain ultralow interest rates until there is more evidence that the level can be sustained.

Tamura said there was a good chance inflation could overshoot expectations as companies shed their aversion to raising prices and wages.

About a decade has passed since the BOJ began efforts to sustainably and stably achieve its 2 inflation target. I feel that achievement of this goal is now clearly in sight, he said in a speech to business leaders in northern Japan.

For now, the BOJ must sustain monetary easing to scrutinise wage and price developments, said the former commercial banker.

But I39;m hoping that around January through March…