Shōichi Nakagawa(Trung xuyên chiêu một,Nakagawa Shōichi,19 July 1953 – 3 October 2009)was a Japanese conservative politician in theLiberal Democratic Party(LDP), who served asMinister of Financefrom 24 September 2008 to 17 February 2009. He previously held the posts ofMinister of Economy, Trade and IndustryandMinistry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheriesin the cabinet ofJunichiro Koizumi.He was regarded as one of Japan's most attractive public figures.[1]On 4 October 2009, he was found dead in his Tokyo apartment. The cause of his death is yet to be determined; although nosuicide notewas found, there was also no indication of foul play.[2]
Shōichi Nakagawa | |
|---|---|
Trung xuyên chiêu một | |
 Official portrait, 1998 | |
| 68thMinister of Finance | |
| In office 24 September 2008 – 17 February 2009 | |
| Prime Minister | Tarō Asō |
| Preceded by | Bunmei Ibuki |
| Succeeded by | Kaoru Yosano |
| Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries | |
| In office 31 October 2005 – 26 September 2006 | |
| Prime Minister | Junichiro Koizumi |
| Preceded by | Mineichi Iwanaga |
| Succeeded by | Toshikatsu Matsuoka |
| In office 30 July 1998 – 5 October 1999 | |
| Prime Minister | Keizo Obuchi |
| Preceded by | Yoshinobu Shimamura |
| Succeeded by | Tokuichiro Tamazawa |
| Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry | |
| In office 22 September 2003 – 31 October 2005 | |
| Prime Minister | Junichiro Koizumi |
| Preceded by | Takeo Hiranuma |
| Succeeded by | Toshihiro Nikai |
| Member of theHouse of Representatives | |
| In office 19 December 1983 – 21 July 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Multi-member district |
| Succeeded by | Tomohiro Ishikawa |
| Constituency | Hokkaido 5th(1983–1996) Hokkaido 11th(1996–2009) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 19 July 1953 Shibuya-ku,Tokyo, Japan |
| Died | 4 October 2009(aged 56) Tokyo, Japan |
| Political party | Liberal Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Alma mater | University of Tokyo |
Early life and education
editNakagawa was born inTokyoon 19 July 1953 and attendedAzabu High School,graduated from the law faculty of theUniversity of Tokyoand entered theIndustrial Bank of Japanin 1978.[3]His father,Ichiro Nakagawa,was a prominentHokkaidōpolitician who committedsuicidein 1983.[4]The younger Nakagawa was elected to the JapaneseHouse of Representativesin the same year.[4]
Political career
editIn 1998, Nakagawa became Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries under Prime MinisterKeizō Obuchi,and in 2003, he became Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry in the cabinet of Prime MinisterJunichiro Koizumi.He served as Agriculture Minister from October 2005 to September 2006, when incoming prime ministerShinzō Abeappointed Nakagawa as chairman of the Policy Research Council of the LDP.
In December 2006,Kyodo News Agencyquoted Nakagawa as having said theatomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasakiwere "truly unforgivable on humanitarian grounds" and reported the politician's concerns over the possession ofnuclear weaponsbyNorth Korea.[5]
Nakagawa's views were close to those of Abe. In particular, both support nationalism in history education, a hard-line stance regardingNorth Koreaand constitutional amendments. Abe has made efforts to relink ties with neighbouringChina,while Nakagawa officially voiced his concern over the country's growing military expenditure, claiming that, were the situation inTaiwanto deteriorate, Japan would become, by 2020, a Chinese colony.[6]Despite the fact that most of mainstream conservative LDP politicians are usually known for their persistentpro-Americanism,Nakagawa was especially known for his pro-Taiwanism in Japan.[7]
On 6 January 2007, in an interview with a reporter from the British newspaperThe Daily Telegraph,Nakagawa stated "Women have their proper place: they should be womanly... They have their own abilities and these should be fully exercised, for example in flower arranging, sewing, or cooking. It's not a matter of good or bad, but we need to accept reality that men and women are genetically different". The paper's Editorial Information Executive could not confirm the source of this information because of the age of the article.
On 2 May 2008, Nakagawa had a discussion about market access of US beef and theDoha Roundwith Agriculture SecretaryEd Schafer.
In the Cabinet of Prime MinisterTaro Aso,appointed on 24 September 2008, Nakagawa was appointed as Minister of Finance and Minister of State in charge of Financial Services.[8]He was defeated in hisconstituencyin the2009 general election.[4]
Contribution to IMF
edit
On 10 October 2008, at G7 Nakagawa proposed in Washington a new emergencyInternational Monetary Fund(IMF) loan program to help emerging and small economies such as Iceland, Brazil, Ukraine and Pakistan. The total size of the loans could be about US$200 billion (about 20 trillion yen) In some newly emerging economies and small and medium European countries, total assets in domestic financial institutions far exceed the national gross domestic products and those governments might be unable to raise necessary funds to help failing financial institutions through measures such as nationalisation. "Nakagawa plan" eased the concerns of small countries and emerging markets and reduced tension in international financial markets.[9][10][11]
On 14 February 2009, Strauss-Kahn stated 'This commitment is the single-largest supplemental financing contribution by an IMF member country ever, and it clearly demonstrates Japan's leadership and continuing commitment to a multilateral approach to global economic and financial challenges.' Strauss-Kahn said he hoped other countries would join Japan in providing support to the 185-nation institution.[12]Prime Minister Taro Aso told Japan was ready to lend up to $100 billion from our foreign reserves to the IMF if it finds itself with insufficient funds to help emergency economies.Nikkei Business Dailyreported that selling U.S. government bonds held by Japan to provide cash to the IMF would affect U.S. bond yields so Tokyo may consider lending U.S. government bonds to the IMF as collateral for it to raise funds.
In a communiqué, G-7 ministers committed to acting jointly to support world growth and employment and strengthen the financial sector, while avoiding protectionism. The ministers met as the U.S. Senate voted in favor of a $787 billion economic stimulus plan—clearing the way for it to be signed into law by President Barack Obama. Strauss-Kahn emphasized "The biggest concrete result of this summit is the loan by the Japanese.... I want to thank the Japanese for having led the way.... Now I will continue with the objective of doubling the (IMF) resources," he told reporters. "It is the largest loan ever made in the history of humanity." Loans were made to a number of economies affected by the crisis, including Belarus, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Pakistan, Serbia, and Ukraine. It announced a precautionary loan for El Salvador last month and an IMF team has also been in negotiations with Turkey.[13][14]
Stance on the comfort women issue
editAffiliated to the openly revisionist organizationNippon Kaigi,[15]Nakagawa expressed in July 1998 his skepticism about the fact that many schools in Japan taught about forced "comfort women"by the Japanese military during theWorld War IIin history textbooks claiming that there was no evidence that the Japanese government and military were directory involved in recruiting or forcing women to work in the brothels.
- "We admit that there were comfort women who traveled with the military," Nakagawa said. "Poverty and other issues were behind this development, which is quite tragic and sad. It's a sad fact that similar phenomena existed in other parts of the world, including the U.S."[16]
Nakagawa had an opposing position toYōhei Kōno'sstatementthat the Japanese government was directly involved in recruiting and forcing "comfort women" to work in the brothels. He stated in a radio program that he wouldn't acknowledge Kōno's statement as long as the current Japanese government concealed what he thought to be the truth. He added that Kōno had a masochistic view of history and that other countries would even fake their pride for their own countries. He suggested the government amend or withdraw Kōno's statement about "comfort women" immediately.
Alcohol controversy
editNakagawa had been known for his extremely heavy drinking since a young age. AMinister of Economy, Trade and Industry (Japan)bureaucrat, who was a fellow of Nakagawa's, witnessed Nakagawa drunk frequently, especially before hosting big political conferences.[17]
During the G7 meeting of finance ministers in Rome on 14 February 2009, where he signed an agreement to lend an extra $100 billion to the IMF that was described as the "largest loan ever made in the history of humanity",[18]Nakagawa was seen to be slurring his words.[19]Nakagawa claimed that his drowsiness and slurred speech were the result of taking too much cold medicine before the meeting. In "Who Governs The World",a book published in February 2010 byTakahiko Soejima,he suggest there were more than three people involved in this incident. Despite calls for his resignation by opposition parties at the time, Nakagawa did not immediately resign; Prime Minister Taro Aso supported him and called for him to continue his duties as Finance Minister.[20]However, on 17 February, Nakagawa announced that he had chosen to resign, and his resignation was accepted by Prime Minister Aso that evening.[21]
Death
editShōichi Nakagawa died on 3 October 2009, aged 56 at his home inTokyo.Japanese media reports said his body was found face down on the bed by his wife, with no external injuries.[22][23][24][25][26][27]She alerted ambulance services at approximately 8:30 am.[28]His death had taken place at least eight hours previously.[23][29][30]An investigation was done to determine the cause of death.[31][32]An autopsy was planned to determine the cause of death. A will has not been located.[27][29]Taro Aso, the former JapanesePrime Minister,was rendered speechless by the news: "I am so deeply shocked that I have no words."[1][33]Hirohisa Fujii,his successor as Finance Minister, also commented: "I want to express my heartfelt condolences. He was doing a fine job as a finance minister, so it is regrettable."[34]The Sydney Morning Heraldsaid his death had "sent a shock wave throughout the nation."[30]
After his death, his widowYūko Nakagawaran for hisold seatin the2012 election,which she won and held until2017,[35]before being reelected via theHokkaido proportional representation blockin2021.
Election history
edit| Election | Age | District | Political party | Number of votes | election results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 Japanese general election | 30 | Hokkaido 5th district | LDP | 163,755 | winning |
| 1986 Japanese general election | 32 | Hokkaido 5th district | LDP | 118,149 | winning |
| 1990 Japanese general election | 36 | Hokkaido 5th district | LDP | 110,781 | winning |
| 1993 Japanese general election | 39 | Hokkaido 5th district | LDP | 110,832 | winning |
| 1996 Japanese general election | 43 | Hokkaido 11th district | LDP | 97,428 | winning |
| 2000 Japanese general election | 46 | Hokkaido 11th district | LDP | 112,297 | winning |
| 2003 Japanese general election | 50 | Hokkaido 11th district | LDP | 112,210 | winning |
| 2005 Japanese general election | 52 | Hokkaido 11th district | LDP | 107,506 | winning |
| 2009 Japanese general election | 56 | Hokkaido 11th district | LDP | 89,818 | lost |
| [36][37] | |||||
References
edit- ^ab"Japan: Nakagawa found".iafrica. 4 October 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 20 July 2011.Retrieved5 October2009.
- ^"Disgraced ex-minister found dead".The Standard.5 October 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 4 June 2011.Retrieved6 October2009.
- ^"Shoichi Nakagawa, Minister of Finance".FCCJ. 21 November 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 12 March 2010.Retrieved2 October2012.
- ^abcRyall, Julian (4 October 2009)."Former Japanese minister Shoichi Nakagawa found dead".The Telegraph.Tokyo.Retrieved2 October2012.
- ^"National News".Mainichi Daily News. 18 December 2006. Archived fromthe originalon 24 December 2006.
- ^"Japan faces becoming 'Chinese province' - Yahoo! News".Archived fromthe originalon 14 March 2007.Retrieved1 March2007.Yahoo! World News,26 February 2007
- ^Đài Loan メディアが hiện chính 権『 phong trước の ともしび』Archived24 September 2009 at theWayback Machine(in Japanese)17 February 2009Nikkan Sports
- ^"Aso elected premier / Announces Cabinet lineup himself; poll likely on Nov. 2"Archived28 September 2008 at theWayback MachineThe Yomiuri Shimbun,25 September 2008
- ^"Japan seeks emergency IMF loan programme to stabilise markets".The Daily Star.
- ^Kageyama, Yuri (12 November 2008)."Report:Japan to offer $105 bln for IMF bailouts".The USA Today.
- ^"The Japanese want the International Monetary Fund to start in Iceland".IceNews.
- ^"Japan, IMF signs $150b pact".asiaone.
- ^"IMF Signs $100 Billion Borrowing Agreement With Japan".IMF.
- ^"Thailand, Japan reach basic accord on FTA (Kyodo News)".IMF. Archived fromthe originalon 28 September 2011.
- ^"Abe’s reshuffle promotes right-wingers "(Korea Joongang Daily - 2014/09/05)
- ^"Comfort Women".Bloomberg. 13 March 2007.
- ^ヤマ tràng になると uống まずにいられない… Trung xuyên thị, thất thố いろいろ(in Japanese)18 February 2009Yomiuri Shimbun
- ^IMF Survey: IMF Gains New Funding, Puts Focus on Bank Clean UpIMF
- ^"Japanese finance minister denies he was drunk at G-7"International Herald Tribune,February 16, 2009
- ^"Nakagawa Says He Won't Resign After Meeting Aso (Update2)"Bloomberg, 16 February 2009
- ^"Japan finance minister steps down", BBC News, 17 February 2009
- ^BBC NEWS Asia-Pacific Japanese ex-minister found dead
- ^ab"Ex-minister found dead".Straits Times.5 October 2009.Retrieved5 October2009.[permanent dead link]
- ^"Disgraced former finance minister found dead".France 24.4 October 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 7 October 2009.Retrieved5 October2009.
- ^"Disgraced Japanese minister found dead in bedroom".ABC News (Australia).4 October 2009.Retrieved5 October2009.
- ^"Mystery surrounds Nakagawa death".Euronews.4 October 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 16 May 2010.Retrieved5 October2009.
- ^ab"Controversial former Japanese finance minister found dead".CNN.4 October 2009.Retrieved5 October2009.
- ^"Japan's ex-Finance Minister found dead".Press Trust of India.4 October 2009.Retrieved5 October2009.
- ^ab"Former minister found dead in Japan".Al Jazeera.4 October 2009.Retrieved5 October2009.
- ^ab"Japan's ex-finance minister Nakagawa found dead: police".The Sydney Morning Herald.5 October 2009.Retrieved5 October2009.
- ^Former Japanese finance minister found dead[dead link],The Washington Post
- ^"Former Japan Minister dies".The New Zealand Herald.5 October 2009.Retrieved5 October2009.[dead link]
- ^David McNeill (5 October 2009)."Shamed Japanese ex-minister found dead".The Independent.London.Retrieved5 October2009.
- ^Justin McCurry (4 October 2009)."Former Japanese finance minister found dead".The Guardian.London.Retrieved5 October2009.
- ^Tự dân ・ trung xuyên úc tử thị が sơ được tuyển… Cố ・ chiêu một thị の thê.Yomiuri Shimbun(in Japanese). 16 December 2012. Archived fromthe originalon 14 June 2017.Retrieved11 November2017.
- ^"Trung xuyên chiêu một ( ナカガワショウイチ ) ｜ chính trị gia tình báo ｜ tuyển cử ドットコム".Tuyển cử ドットコム(in Japanese).Retrieved18 November2024.
- ^"Trung xuyên chiêu một | tuyển cử kết quả ( chúng Nghị Viện ) | quốc hội nghị viên bạch thư".kokkai.sugawarataku.net.Retrieved18 November2024.
External links
edit
- Shoichi Nakagawa's Profile(in Japanese)