The job that nobody wants

There are only six weeks left until Masaru Hayami, Japan’s central bank governor, retires. And Japan’s prime minister, Junichiro Koizumi, seems no closer to naming Hayami’s successor. But with time running out, Koizumi won’t be able to delay his decision for much longer.

Hayami’s heir was supposed to have been named before or on January 20. This announcement was, however, pushed back to some unspecified date this month. Many observers now believe that it is unlikely this will be before the last week of February.