WASHINGTON (Kyodo) The International Monetary Fund is pressing Japan to maintain its "accommodative" monetary policy for a little longer as its economy faces downside risks.

The Washington-based institution said in its annual review of Japan released Tuesday that the government should contemplate a hike in the consumption tax to bring its debt-ridden finances back into line.

On the interest rate front, the IMF said Japan's "monetary policy should remain accommodative," as its executive directors see "little risk in delaying monetary tightening."