March 29 (Reuters) -
* FITCH AFFIRMS JAPAN AT 'A'; OUTLOOK STABLE
* FITCH SAYS EXPECT JAPAN'S GENERAL GOVERNMENT (GG) DEFICIT TO NARROW TO ABOUT 5% OF GDP IN FISCAL YEAR ENDING MARCH 2023 (FY22)
* FITCH- FORECAST REAL GDP GROWTH FOR JAPAN AT 1.3% IN 2023
* FITCH SAYS HIGHER ENERGY PRICES AND YEN DEPRECIATION SPURRED INFLATION IN JAPAN, WE FORECAST TO AVERAGE 2.7% IN 2023
* FITCH SAYS BASE CASE REMAINS THAT BOJ WILL MAINTAIN ITS LOOSE MONETARY POLICY OVER MEDIUM TERM Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: [ ]