BOJ Says Gov Ueda Hospitalized, Will Miss Policy Meeting

By Megumi Fujikawa

TOKYO--Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda has been hospitalized and is expected to miss next week's monetary policy meeting, the central bank said Wednesday.

Ueda is anticipated to remain in hospital for treatment of an infected liver cyst for about two weeks but will continue to perform his duties remotely as needed, the BOJ said.

Deputy Gov. Ryozo Himino will serve as acting chairman for the upcoming June 15-16 monetary policy meeting, while Deputy Gov. Shinichi Uchida will conduct the post-meeting press conference, the bank said.

Ueda is expected to recover in time to attend the subsequent meeting in late July, the central bank said.

The news comes at a delicate time for Japanese monetary policy steering as officials assess the economy's ability to absorb higher rates while the Iran crisis generates uncertainty about the trajectory for growth and inflation.

Markets have been almost fully pricing in a potential interest-rate hike at next week's meeting.

Ueda's absence is unlikely to significantly change the bank's rate decision, as policymakers, including the governor himself, have voiced growing concerns that higher oil prices triggered by the Middle East conflict will accelerate underlying inflation.

Write to Megumi Fujikawa at megumi.fujikawa@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

June 10, 2026 06:28 ET (10:28 GMT)