Bank of Japan Deputy Gov. Masayoshi Amamiya, one of the two leading candidates to become the next BOJ chief, says he sees wage gains getting stronger from next year, a comment that is likely to keep speculation smoldering of policy adjustments after Haruhiko Kuroda steps down.

¡°It is worth mentioning that further increases in wages, including base pay, can be expected from the next fiscal year onward,¡± Amamiya said in a speech Thursday. ¡°Under these circumstances, together with a decline in the inflation rate, wage growth is projected to exceed CPI inflation.¡±

Talking just a matter of hours after the U.S. Federal Reserve raised interest rates by three-quarters of a percentage point, Amamiya pledged to ¡°steadfastly¡± continue with monetary easing with little hint of any immediate policy change to come in Japan.