Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi brushed aside speculation Thursday that Japan may fall into a financial crisis in March, pledging that he would not let that happen.
"Many people are saying that a financial crisis may occur in March (when firms close their books for fiscal 2001). Try to remember what happened in September when a financial crisis was rumored, but nothing happened," Koizumi told a gathering of the Yomiuri International Economic Society in Tokyo.
"It was also said that our administration would likely become vulnerable in November and give up its reform drive in December. But we survived," he added. "I will never allow a crisis or unnecessary confusion to happen this time around, either."