Bank of Japan Gov. Masaru Hayami said Friday that he intends to serve as head of the central bank "as long as my health permits" and expressed his displeasure at news reports from Tokyo that he plans to resign.
"I cannot understand why such reports came out," he told reporters after arriving in Washington to attend a meeting of Group of Seven finance ministers and central bankers.
"As long as my health permits, I intend to serve my term," Hayami said in a statement later in the day. "There is no change in this wish of mine." Hayami's five-year term ends March 19, 2003.
Despite his denials, the widespread news reports about his resignation plans, which made front-page headlines in all Japan's major dailies, has raised doubts about his future ahead of the G7 meeting.