Former Bank of Japan Deputy Gov. Hiroshi Nakaso, seen as a leading contender to become the new central bank chief, said he has taken up a post heading a financial conference under the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) advisory council.
While it was unclear whether Nakaso's move may affect a potential nomination as the next BOJ head, it comes as Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's administration intensifies its search for a successor to incumbent Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda.
"I'm a member of ABAC, APEC's Business Advisory Council, private-sector panel, which will handle the issue of transition finance. I'm going to serve as the chairman of a task force to deal with financial issues," Nakaso told a fintech symposium late Thursday.