Of the 24 economists who replied to the Jan 5-12 poll, 16, or 67%, chose Amamiya as the most likely candidate to become the next BOJ governor.
Four economists in the poll, or 17%, chose Nakaso, who is seen less dovish than Amamiya, as the most likely candidate.
In a September poll that asked the same question, Amamiya and Nakaso received 61% and 33% of economists' votes, respectively.
Five analysts expected the unwinding of easing to start in April, at the first BOJ meeting under the new governor.
Elsewhere in the poll, 83% of economists said Japanese nominal wages were unlikely to outpace rising consumer prices in 2023.