Japan's exports fell for the first time in 10 months in September, data showed on Thursday, a worry for policymakers as any prolonged weakness in global demand may complicate the central bank's path to exit years of ultra-easy monetary policy. Soft demand in China and slowing U.S. growth weighed on exports, while the yen's recent rebound, in part due to the Bank of Japan's unexpected rate hike in late July, helped further push down their value. "It's possible that exports will continue to struggle in coming months in light of uncertainties particularly in the Chinese economy," Kazuma Kishikawa, economist at Daiwa Institute of Research, said.