Diet asked to OK Kuroda as next BOJ chief; opposition seen falling into line

Haruhiko Kuroda, the 68-year-old Asian Development Bank chief and a strong advocate of aggressive monetary easing, was officially nominated Thursday as the next Bank of Japan governor.

The Diet was also asked to confirm BOJ Executive Director Hiroshi Nakaso, 59, and Gakushuin University professor Kikuo Iwata, 70, as vice governors. Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsumata Kato presented the list of nominees to the Diet Steering Committee of the Lower House.

Opposition parties may find it hard to block Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's BOJ candidates, all of whom support bold credit easing policies. In recent days, Abe's calls for such steps have apparently had a positive impact on financial markets.