Mixed reaction to yen's sharp decline

The Japanese yen has dropped more than 15% against the US dollar since November.

A weak yen makes Japanese goods more affordable for foreign buyers and also boosts profits of its exporters.

A weakening currency is seen by many as key to reviving growth in Japan's sluggish economy.

However, some analysts have been critical of Japan's policy stance, which has led to the yen's recent drop, saying that it may prompt a so-called currency war.

But there are others who have said that other central banks have also been aggressive with monetary easing in recent years.

Rupert Wingfield-Hayes has more on the reasons behind the yen's slide and the debate that it has triggered.