Bank of Japan (BOJ) decision-making minutes reportedly show that then-BOJ governor Haruhiko Kuroda’s surprise push into negative interest rate policy caught parts of his own board off guard. According to reporting cited by outlets, the minutes indicate that some members were not fully aligned with the timing or extent of the decision, highlighting internal debate ahead of the policy change. The coverage describes how the discussion within the board became a focal point once the negative rate decision was made public, with the shock stemming from the divergence between expectations and the eventual outcome. While the articles focus on the internal reaction reflected in the minutes, they do not suggest a change in the basic policy direction at the time, only that the process was more contentious than previously understood. The reports collectively emphasize that the minutes provide insight into how board members reacted to the move and underscore the role of internal dynamics in major BOJ policy shifts.