BOJ Shirakawa:Japan econ to grow at potential rate

TOKYO, April 15 (Reuters) - Bank of Japan Governor Masaaki Shirakawa said on Tuesday that the Japanese economy is slowing now due to rising energy and raw materials costs but will likely grow moderately in line with its potential growth rate.

"The economy is not in a situation where it is suffering a slowdown due to external shocks," Shirakawa told a financial committee in the upper house of parliament.

Finance chiefs from rich nations meeting in Washington offered a gloomier assessment of the global economy on Friday and vowed to act swiftly on wide-ranging reforms aimed at moving beyond the credit crisis that threatens world growth. (Reporting by Tokyo Economic Policy Desk)