Japan's Furusawa Named IMF Deputy Chief

Washington, Feb. 5 (Jiji Press)--Mitsuhiro Furusawa, former Japanese vice finance minister for international affairs, will become deputy managing director at the International Monetary Fund on March 2, the IMF said Thursday. He will take up the position vacated by Naoyuki Shinohara who is leaving office at the end of February, allowing Japan to get the organization's second-highest post for the fourth consecutive time. Furusawa, 58, joined the Japanese Finance Ministry in 1979 and has held such posts as director-general of the Financial Bureau. He also has served in such posts as minister at the Japanese embassy in Washington and director at the IMF's Executive Board. He has been special adviser to the Japanese cabinet since July. The IMF's three other deputy managing director posts are currently filled by officials from the United States, China and Brazil. END