Finance Minister Kiichi Miyazawa on Wednesday indirectly criticized the United States and European countries for taking it for granted that the managing director of the International Monetary Fund must be a European.
"Given that Japan is a large shareholder in the IMF, it makes no sense if the country (Japan) is ignored completely from the outset," he told a regular news conference.
Japan's nomination of Eisuke Sakakibara, former vice finance minister for international affairs, for the job was meaningful despite the eventual decision to withdraw his name, Miyazawa said.
Sakakibara's nomination proved that Asia is capable of sending a competent person to lead the IMF, he said.
"I don't think there was anyone in any other country who said Mr. Sakakibara was not qualified for the position," Miyazawa added, indicating that the selection of an IMF managing director is not based solely on candidates' abilities.
By tradition, IMF heads have been European, while the World Bank has been led by an American.
Horst Koehler, the German head of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, is certain to assume the IMF's top position now that the U.S. and Japan have both expressed support for him.