Japan's Machimura: not mulling new BOJ nominee now

TOKYO, March 12 (Reuters) - Japan's top government spokesman said on Wednesday that the government was not considering alternate candidates now for the next Bank of Japan governor. "We are not at a stage where we could tell you something of that sort," Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura told a news conference, when asked whether the government has any plan to change its nominees for BOJ leadership positions.

Japan's upper house of parliament voted down the government's nominee for the next BOJ chief, Toshiro Muto, on Wednesday, adding to uncertainty over who will succeed current governor Toshihiko Fukui when he retires in a week. (Reporting by Yuzo Saeki)