Masaaki Shirakawa (Bank of Japan), Japanese Economy: Myth, Reality and Challenges for Policy Makers and Academics

(Sponsored by the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government, Harvard Kennedy School; and co-sponsored by the Program on U.S.-Japan Relations, Weatherhead Center for International Affairs (WCFIA), Harvard University)

Mr. Shirakawa served as Governor of the Bank of Japan from 2008 to March 2013. He served as Vice Chairman of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) from January 2011 to March 2013. Mr. Shirakawa joined the Bank of Japan in 1972. His career encompassed monetary policy and financial stability, and he held key positions, including Executive Director in charge of monetary policy. Mr. Shirakawa holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Tokyo and an M.A. in Economics from the University of Chicago. Currently, Mr. Shirakawa is a professor at Aoyama Gakuin University in Tokyo.