Masaaki Shirakawa is Japanese central banker and economist born on 27th September 1949 in Fukuoka. He graduated from high school in Kokura. He earned BA degree from University of Tokyo in 1972. Later in 1977, he earned degree in M.A. Economics from University of Chicago.
In 1972, Masaaki Shirakawa joined Bank of Japan. His career include a period as General Manager for United State of America at bank office in New York City and as General Manager at Oita branch. In 2006, Shirakawa joined faculty of graduate at Kyoto University. In 2008, he returned to Bank of Japan. His nomination as approved on 9th April 2008 and served as 30th Governor of the Bank of Japan. He also served as professor at Aoyama Gakuin University and Director and Vice Chairman of the Bank for International Settlement.
The Newsweek listed Masaaki Shirakawa the world 6th most powerful central banker and economist with Jean Claude Trichet on 4th and Ben Bernanke on 5th. The Bloomberg Markets Magazine included Masaaki Shirakawa among 50 most influential persons. He is also member of Group of Thirty.