BY TOMOYUKI TACHIKAWA AND MEGUMI FUJIKAWA

TOKYO -- Bank of Japan Governor Masaaki Shirakawa said Japan wasn't in danger of entering a deflationary spiral, but expressed concern that falling consumer prices could continue.

Mr. Shirakawa said after the bank's two-day policy board meeting that considering how sharp Japan's economic downturn has been, "it may take time for falls in prices to end."

But he said the BOJ had taken measures that would help curb any deterioration of demand and supply conditions.

The ...