By Tim Kelly, Kentaro Okasaka and Rocky Swift TOKYO (Reuters) -Japanese electronics giant Sony and drinks maker Suntory are stockpiling inventory in the United States while their peers shift production or supply chains in efforts to fend off an evolving threat of U.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba denied that Tokyo is trying to weaken its currency after President Donald Trump bumped the yen by accusing Japan and China of gaining an unfair advantage through foreign exchange policy.

Tokyo unlikely to retaliate despite deep unease about impact of potential US tariffs on Japanese firms, as it still needs US security umbrella, analysts say.