Bank of Japan operates as the central bank in Japan. The company’s activities include deciding and implementing monetary policy; ensuring settlement of funds among banks and other financial institutions, thereby contributing to the maintenance of financial system stability; enhancement of payment and settlement systems, and market infrastructure; and issuance, circulation, and maintenance of banknotes and coins. It also offers foreign exchange transactions, including those executed as part of the bank's management of its foreign currency assets, as well as business related to assisting other central banks and international organizations in their investment in yen; and handling government affairs that relate to international finance, such as the compilation and dissemination of Japan's balance of payments statistics and foreign exchange intervention. In addition, the company provides various services relating to the government, such as receipt, disbursement, and accounting of treasury funds; management of the deposits of the Japanese government; custody of securities acquired by or submitted to the government; issuance of, and principal and interest payment on, Japanese government securities; and operations relating to its role as the book entry transfer institution in the Japanese government bond book-entry system. Further, it releases the minutes of monetary policy meetings and public statements on the policy board decisions in a timely manner for communication with the public. Additionally, the company operates branches, local offices, and overseas representative offices. Bank of Japan was founded in 1882 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.