By Leika Kihara

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Wednesday the ability to closely coordinate with global central banks and “high-quality” communication skills are among qualifications for the next Bank of Japan (BOJ) governor.

Speaking in parliament, Kishida said he was still in the process of selecting the successor to incumbent BOJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda, whose term ends in April, noting “the impact the decision would have on financial markets.”

“Since the Lehman crisis, close coordination among major central bank leaders, as well as the ability to receive and deliver high-quality communication to and from domestic and overseas markets, have become extremely important,” he said.

“I’d like to select (the next BOJ governor) taking these factors into account,” Kishida said, when asked by an opposition lawmaker what the qualifications Kuroda’s successor must have.

(Reporting by Leika Kihara; Editing by Chang-Ran Kim & Shri Navaratnam)