TMTPOST -- Japan’s former top foreign exchange diplomat expects the yen to strengthen to around 135–140 per U.S. dollar by the end of the year, driven largely by a narrowing interest rate gap between the U.S. and Japan—rather than any deliberate push from U.S. President Donald Trump to weaken the greenback. Speculation has mounted in markets that Trump, known for previously accusing Japan and China of currency manipulation, might pressure Tokyo to help weaken the dollar to boost U.S. exports.