Lawmakers reacted in bafflement when the news spread like wildfire on Feb. 10 through political and financial circles that economist Kazuo Ueda would be named the next Bank of Japan governor.

Feyenoord's Ayase Ueda (top) vies for the ball during the second half of a Champions League round of 16 first-leg match against Inter Milan atDe Kuip in Rotterdam on March 5, 2025. (Kyodo ...