PARIS (AFX) - Japan's Deputy Finance Minister for International Affairs Haruhiko Kuroda said "Japan is ready to intervene on foreign exchange markets" to weaken the yen, since its recent appreciation against the dollar and the euro "does not reflect the fundamental trends." In an interview with French financial daily l'Agefi, Kuroda said "interventions on forex markets have been, and will be, an efficient method for preserving the stability of exchange rates, by demonstrating the intentions of monetary authorities in terms of exchange rate policies, and by influencing the demand and offer." In response to a possible capital flight out of Japan in case of intervention, Kuroda said "as long as changes of the Japanese currency are in line with fundamentals, the impacts on economic activity will be positive. From this, the prospects for our economy will keep getting better, which will increase investor confidence in Japanese financial assets." L'Agefi said market participants currently expects Japan's monetary authorities to defend the 118 usd/yen level.