Toshihiko Fukui is the Governor of the Bank of Japan.

A life long career bureaucrat, Mr. Fukui joined the Bank of Japan in 1958 and since then has served there in a variety of posts. Although still governed by the conservative instincts instilled by his career training, Mr. Fukui has instituted a series of important reforms of BOJ business practices. A clear example of new openness comes every time the Bank of Japan announces policy decisions. Since late 2003, Governor Fukui has complemented announcements with press conferences. The central bank also publishes detailed minutes of policy meetings. Such transparency was unthinkable just five years ago. Mr. Fukui has maintained the country’s ultra-accommodative monetary policy and is unlikely to change course anytime soon given the fact that Japan has entered its 4th recession in the past 12 years.