Japan mulls presenting nominees for BOJ governors

Three government and ruling party sources told Reuters that Japan's government is considering presenting to parliament its nominees for the next Bank of Japan BOJ governor and two deputy governors sometime next week.

The schedule for the nominees was delayed and the government initially planned to present them around Feb. 10, but the schedule has been delayed due to the sensitivity of the matter, according to sources.

The second, five-year term of BOJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda ends on April 8. His two deputies, Masayoshi Amamiya and Masazumi Wakatabe, will see their terms end on March 19.

The nomination of the government needs approval from both houses of parliament, which is a done deal since the ruling coalition has a solid majority.

The government has sounded out Amamiya, a career central banker who drafted many of the BOJ's monetary easing tools, to succeed Kuroda as next central bank governor, according to the Nikkei newspaper on Monday.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters later on Monday he would continue to consider the best candidate for the job, suggesting that no final decision had been made.

Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki told reporters on Tuesday that the government will choose the most appropriate candidate who can be approved by the parliament.