Group 1 - Japanese Prime Minister Kishi Nobuo announced the decision to dissolve the House of Representatives and hold early elections on January 23, raising expectations for potential fiscal expansion policies [1] - The announcement led to concerns among investors about increased government spending and a larger scale of debt issuance, resulting in a decline of the yen [1] - The USD/JPY exchange rate surged to a high of 159.45, the highest in 18 months, approaching the critical psychological level of 160, which is within the range where the Japanese government previously intervened in the currency market [1] Group 2 - Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki issued a clear warning to market speculators regarding the weakening yen, stating that appropriate actions would be taken if necessary [2] - Suzuki expressed concerns over the rapid depreciation of the yen, indicating that direct market intervention is a possible option [2] - Analysts noted that the key concern for the Japanese government is not only the absolute level of the yen but also the speed of its depreciation, with the euro/yen exchange rate also reaching record highs [2]