Bank of Japan board member Kiyohiko Nishimura said Thursday that the central bank is at a crucial point regarding policy decisions, indicating that the end of the quantitative easing policy may happen in the near future. "Judging from the recent core CPI moves, which have been at or above zero for three consecutive months, we are in a vital stage in managing monetary policy," Nishimura told reporters in a press conference. But he added that he could not predetermine the timing of the end of the easy policy.