Following is the gist of remarks made by Mr. Hiroshi Okuda, Chairman of Nippon Keidanren, at a press conference on 10 February 2003. Translation is rush and tentative, and sequence of the gist may not necessarily coincide with words delivered.
(On next governor of BOJ)
The next governor should meet the following three conditions:
1) To be approved by lawmakers in the Diet smoothly, 2) to be well known also in foreign countries, and 3) to have a good command of financial policy
Quite a few people may clear the hurdle and their names should be on the candidate list.
(On energy issues)
Nuclear energy development is mandatory for Japan for at least following ten to twenty years.
Concerning fossil energy, with 170-day stock, Japanese economy could survive an oil price hike caused by an international uncertainty for a short period.
(On US model corporate governance)
At present, very few Japanese companies have "operating officers" in their organizations and it indicates that US style corporate governance, which is characterized by its clear functional division of "board of directors" and "operating officers", will not penetrate business climate of Japan so rapidly.