The Bank of Japan has announced the joining of Shigehiro Kuwabara as executive director at the BOJ, effective from August 21, 2014. Kuwabara is former official at the Ministry of Finance and Financial Services Agency. Kuwabara succeeds Nobuyuki Kinoshita, whose four-year term ended August 20, 2014.

In the new role, Kuwabara is in charge of the Payment and Settlement Systems Department, Research and Statistics Department and Operations Department.