'The Bank of Japan is asleep at the wheel as usual ... Because the bank is independent, we can't simply lash out and wake it up'
Japan's Banking Minister Shizuka Kamei, on the bank's reaction to the country's second bout of deflation in less than a decade
Kamei is upset because he thinks the Bank of Japan is not doing enough to solve Japan's economic problems.
When he says the bank is 'asleep at the wheel', Kamei compares its inaction to a sleepy driver. A sleepy driver does not react to danger. He linked the two because he thinks the bank has the same problem. The phrase also hints, if nothing is done, something bad will happen. A driver who is asleep cannot see road hazards ahead.
To 'lash out' is a phrase which means to make a sudden, unplanned attack. Kamei says lashing out to 'wake it up' would not work because the bank is private and does not have to listen to the government.
