In a postwar first, the Bank of Japan lacks a chief following the Upper House rejection Wednesday of the government's latest candidate to replace BOJ Gov. Toshihiko Fukui, whose five-year term ended the same day.
The leadership vacuum at the central bank is likely to deal a heavy blow to Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda amid the ongoing global financial market crisis.
Fukuda told reporters that he is "keenly aware" of his responsibility for the vacancy.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.