TOKYO, Nov 4 (Reuters) - Bank of Japan Governor Masaaki Shirakawa said on Wednesday downward pressure on prices will likely persist in Japan for some time.

Shirakawa also said the central bank's decision to end its commercial paper and corporate bond purchases in December did not mean there was a change in its monetary policy stance.

'The BOJ will maintain a very accommodative monetary conditions,' he told a seminar.

(Reporting by Leika Kihara and Rie Ishiguro)

((leika.kihara@thomsonreuters.com; +81-3-6441-1828; Reuters Messaging: leika.kihara.reuters.com@reuters.net)) Keywords: JAPAN ECONOMY/BOJ

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