TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's main opposition Democratic Party decided on Tuesday to reject government nominee Toshiro Muto as the next Bank of Japan governor.

Party executives also decided to oppose academic Takatoshi Ito as a deputy governor but to accept former BOJ official Masaaki Shirakawa in that post, said Yukio Hatoyama, the Democrats' secretary-general.

The government has nominated Muto, currently a deputy BOJ governor, to succeed Toshihiko Fukui when his term expires on March 19.

The nominees appeared on Tuesday at hearings in parliament, which must approve their appointments.

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(Reporting by Tetsushi Kajimoto and Yuzo Saeki)