TOKYO — The Japanese government on Thursday nominated Haruhiko Kuroda, a proponent of more aggressive stimulus for the ailing Japanese economy, to lead the country’s central bank.

The nomination of Mr. Kuroda, who is head of the Asian Development Bank and whose views on bolstering the economy echo those of Prime Minster Shinzo Abe, had been widely expected.

If confirmed by Parliament, Mr. Kuroda will succeed the current governor of the Bank of Japan, Masaaki Shirakawa, who is stepping down on March 19. Also nominated Thursday as deputy governors were were Kikuo Iwata, an economics professor at Gakushuin University, and Hiroshi Nakaso, an executive director at the central bank, according to a government statement submitted to the upper house of Parliament.

“The nominees announced today will lead the charge in the bold financial policies that Prime Minister Abe aims for, and his economic growth strategy that has now been dubbed ‘Abenomics,’ ” Yoshihide Suga, Japan's top government spokesman, said at a news conference.