The Democratic Party of Japan said March 11 that it will reject the government's nomination of Toshiro Muto for new Bank of Japan governor, even though Muto pledged to ensure the BOJ's independence in testimony to the Diet.

The DPJ also will oppose the nomination of University of Tokyo professor Takatoshi Ito as one of the BOJ's two deputy governors, and support that of Kyoto University professor Masaaki Shirakawa.

The BOJ nominees must be approved by both Diet chambers, including the opposition-controlled Upper House.