Japan OKs Nishimura for BOJ deputy, but no governor

(For more on the BOJ succession, click [ID:nT55777])

TOKYO, March 19 (Reuters) - Kiyohiko Nishimura, currently member of the Bank of Japan's Policy Board, was confirmed as a deputy governor on Wednesday, when parliament approved his nomination.

The lower house vote matched one a few minutes earlier by parliament's upper house, which is controlled by opposition parties.

The lower house also approved Koji Tanami as governor, but because the upper house rejected him, the top post at the central bank is set to be left vacant when current Governor Toshihiko Fukui retires at midnight (1500 GMT).

Fukui is expected to appoint Masaaki Shirakawa, confirmed by parliament last week to be a deputy governor, to serve as acting governor. (Reporting by Hideyuki Sano; Editing by Rodney Joyce)