For that very reason, I imagine that the work of foreign correspondents such as yourselves is challenging and exciting. As a central bank governor, I myself have many opportunities to exchange views with the overseas media and policy authorities abroad. On these occasions, I get asked a great many questions about Japan’s economy. Here are the questions I am most frequently asked.
Of course, cooperation is a two-way street. The market in turn must realise that commercial considerations, while important, cannot by themselves dictate the nature of necessary reforms. The central bank will usually have certain overriding interests (such as avoiding systemic risk) that are likely to be a lower priority for the market itself.