Mr Fukui may have better luck with the Bank of Japan's other policy goal: keeping the financial system from collapse.

ECONOMIST: The Bank of Japan

Japan's central bank governor, Toshihiko Fukui, has been heavily criticised for investing in high-risk funds run by Mr Murakami.

BBC: NEWS | Business | Top Japanese fund manager charged

An early investor in the firm, and a crucial provider of introductions, was Toshihiko Fukui, before he became governor of the Bank of Japan.

ECONOMIST: Suddenly, shareholders are beginning to matter

Mr Fukui's term ends on March 19th, and somehow Japan's warring political parties must settle on a successor.

ECONOMIST: Decoupling 2: Japan