Masaaki Shirakawa: Globalization and population aging – challenges facing Japan Speech by Mr Masaaki Shirakawa, Governor of the Bank of Japan, to the Board of Councillors of Nippon Keidanren (Japan Business Federation), Tokyo, 22 December 2011. *  *  *  Introduction I am honored to have this opportunity to address the representatives of Japan’s economy gathered here today.
It is something of practical relevance when it sets the stage for a discussion about the independence of central banks. And such a discussion has begun.