TOKYO, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Japanese Finance Minister Naoto Kan will ask the Bank of Japan to support the economy through flexible monetary policy in a speech in parliament this week, the Nikkei financial daily reported on Tuesday.

Kan will make the unusual reference to the central bank's policy in a speech planned for Friday as part of the government's efforts to to overcome deflation, the paper said without citing sources.

He will say that "the government hopes the BOJ will support the economy through appropriate and flexible monetary policy," the Nikkei reported.

The Bank of Japan is expected to keep its policy rate at 0.1 percent and hold off on new policy initiatives at a two-day rate review ending on Tuesday.

Kan will also say it is important for the government to have strong fiscal discipline and to ensure confidence in its fiscal policy, the Nikkei said. (Reporting by Hideyuki Sano; Editing by Joseph Radford)