TOKYO -- The Japanese government and the Bank of Japan intervened to buy the yen and sell dollars for the first time in about 24 years, Masato Kanda, Vice-Minister of International Affairs of the Ministry of Finance, said Thursday.

The move followed a slide in the yen after the BOJ stuck to its ultraloose monetary policy and Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda made bearish remarks that indicated he had no intention to raise rates any time soon.