TOKYO  -

* Japanese refiners will continue to lift oil from Iran through March after receiving a waiver from U.S. sanctions on crude imports in November, Takashi Tsukioka, president of the Petroleum Association of Japan (PAJ) said on Thursday

* Japan resumed oil liftings from Iran this month after refiners Fuji Oil Co Ltd and Showa Shell Sekiyu loaded cargoes onto a tanker that is expected to arrive in Japan on Feb. 9 

* Japan's oil refining industry will continue to ask its government to seek an extension of the U.S. sanctions waivers after the initial 180-day exemption is over in May, he said

* Japanese refiners will likely be able to secure alternative supplies from other Middle Eastern countries, given their friendly relationships, even if the exemption is not extended, he said

* Japan's Idemitsu Kosan Co Ltd plans to buy the remainder of its contractual volumes of Iranian oil between February and March, said Tsukioka, who also serves as Idemitsu's chairman

* Idemitsu is likely to renew its term contracts for Iranian oil although details have not been decided, he said

(Reporting by Yuka Obayashi; editing by Christian Schmollinger) ((Yuka.Obayashi@thomsonreuters.com; +813-6441-1798; Reuters Messaging: yuka.obayashi.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))