TOKYO, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Japanese Economics Minister Kaoru Yosano said on Wednesday the government should maintain its current target for achieving a balanced budget even though that target is looking less viable. "The flag (of the budget target) has become worn out a bit, but we need to keep on waving it," Yosano told a news conference after an extra cabinet meeting to approve budget guidelines for the fiscal year starting next April. Under economic policy guidelines it drew up in 2006, Tokyo pledged to cut spending by up to 14 trillion yen ($150 billion) over five years to achieve its self-imposed goal of balancing the budget, excluding debt issuance and servicing, by March 2012. (Reporting by Yuzo Saeki)