TOKYO (AFX-ASIA) - Finance Minister Masajuro Shiokawa said the government hopes the Bank of Japan will help to prevent deflation by raising its monthly outright purchases of government bonds to 1 trln yen from the current 800 bln. "We know the BoJ's efforts to provide ample liquidity helps to prevent deflation and the government wants the bank to increase its outright purchases of government bonds to 1 trln yen from 800 bln," he said.