We are expecting the dollar/yen to head up to around 82 yen by the end of the year."

Meanwhile, policymakers have found it increasingly tough to boost domestic consumption, as they continue to fight deflation or falling consumer prices, which tend to make customers put off their purchases in hope of a better deal down the road.

needed to set an inflation target of 3% instead of its current 1% goal to help revive growth in the economy.

monetary policy would be key

Japan's exports, one of the biggest drivers of growth, have been hurt by a slowdown in key markets such as the US and Europe.

The price of premium-quality extra virgin olive oil in the wholesale market fell this month to $2,900 a tonne, the lowest since 2002 and down more than half from nearly $6,000 a tonne in 2005, according to the International Monetary Fund.

The EU has tried to deal with the surplus by paying companies to stockpile oil

price of premium-quality extra virgin olive oil in the wholesale market fell this month to $2,900 a tonne,

suffering from strong competition from cheaper varieties of vegetable oil.

This crop is vital for the main producing countries in terms of maintaining employment in their rural areas