Japan's economy grew a mere 0.1 per cent in the April - June quarter to reinforce a growing expectation that the central bank will rethink a rate hike this month.
The expansion in GDP fell short of the modest consensus forecast for a 0.2 per cent increase, partly due to weak exports.
The quarterly growth translated into an annualised rise of 0.5 per cent, much slower than a revised 3.2 per cent increase in January-March and US second-quarter growth of 3.4 per cent.
Private consumption rose for the third straight quarter but, at 0.4 per cent, it was half that seen in January-March.
Growth in corporate capital spending rebounded to 1.2 per cent from 0.3 per cent in the previous quarter, however, pointing to solid expansion ahead.
Many analysts expect another slow quarter of growth for Japan in July-September, as weakness in the United States weighs further on exports.
Personal consumption, which makes up 55 per cent of GDP, is also seen remaining soft as consumers feel the pinch from rising petrol prices and a tax increase from June.