Toshimitsu Motegi
Toshimitsu Motegi | |
|---|---|
Mậu mộc mẫn sung | |
 Motegi in 2024 | |
| Secretary-General of the Liberal Democratic Party | |
| Assumed office 4 November 2021 | |
| President | Fumio Kishida |
| Vice President | Tarō Asō |
| Preceded by | Akira Amari |
| Minister for Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 11 September 2019 – 4 November 2021 | |
| Prime Minister |
|
| Preceded by | Tarō Kōno |
| Succeeded by | Yoshimasa Hayashi |
| Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy | |
| In office 3 August 2017 – 11 September 2019 | |
| Prime Minister | Shinzo Abe |
| Preceded by | Nobuteru Ishihara |
| Succeeded by | Yasutoshi Nishimura |
| Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry | |
| In office 26 December 2012 – 3 September 2014 | |
| Prime Minister | Shinzo Abe |
| Preceded by | Yukio Edano |
| Succeeded by | Yūko Obuchi |
| Member of theHouse of Representatives | |
| Assumed office 19 July 1993 | |
| Constituency | Tochigi 1st district |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 7 October 1955 Ashikaga, Tochigi,Japan |
| Political party | Liberal Democratic Party(1994–present) |
| Other political affiliations | Japan New Party(1993–1994) |
| Alma mater | University of Tokyo Harvard University |
| Website | Official website |
Toshimitsu Motegi(Mậu mộc mẫn sung,Motegi Toshimitsu,born 7 October 1955)is a Japanesepoliticianwho currently serves as the Secretary-General of theLiberal Democratic Party.He has previously served asMinister for Foreign Affairsfrom 2019 to 2021, and as Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry from 2012 to 2014. He is serving in theHouse of Representativesas a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. He leads theHeisei Kenkyūkaifaction within the LDP.[1]
Early life and education
[edit]A native ofAshikaga, Tochigi,Motegi was born on 7 October 1955.[2]He graduated from theUniversity of Tokyoin 1978 and worked for the trading companyMarubeni Corporationuntil 1980. He received a post-graduateMaster of Public Policydegree from theJohn F. Kennedy School of Governmentin 1983, and worked as a management consultant forMcKinsey & Companyfrom 1984 to 1992.[2][3][4]
Career
[edit]He was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in the1993 general electionas a member of theJapan New Party,representing the Tochigi 5th district. He changed his political affiliation to theLiberal Democratic Partyin 1994, when JNP was dissolved.[5]
He was appointed Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs in October 2002 under Prime MinisterJunichiro Koizumi.Koizumi then promoted him to Minister of State for Okinawa and Northern Territories Affairs, Science and Technology Policy, and Information Technology in September 2003, and on 1 August 2008, Prime MinisterYasuo Fukudaappointed him as State Minister in Charge of Financial Services and Administrative Reform.
Within theLiberal Democratic Party,Motegi is the acting chairman of the Takeshita faction, the party's third-largest with 52 members.
Abe government
[edit]Following the LDP's victory in the2012 general election,resulting inShinzo Abe's election as prime minister, Motegi was named Minister for Economy, Trade, and Industry.
He left the Cabinet in September 2014 to serve as Chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party Election Committee. He was appointed Chairman of the LDP Policy Council in August 2016.[3]
Motegi was appointed Minister for Economic Revitalization and State Minister for Economic and Fiscal Policy in 2017.[3]As minister, he was sent as a special envoy to sign theComprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnershipin Santiago, Chile.[6]In August 2019, Motegi led negotiations withU.S. Trade RepresentativeRobert Lighthizerto finalize a new trade pact between Japan and the United States.[7]Nikkeidubbed Motegi "Japan's 'Trump whisperer'" in recognition of his role in negotiating with US PresidentDonald Trumpand his administration.[8]Abe appointed Motegi as foreign minister in September 2019 in recognition of this success.[9]
In 2018, Motegi was revealed to have possibly breached Japan's electoral laws. He was accused of making illegal donations of incense sticks to his constituents through his personal secretary. Opposition parties called for his resignation.[10]He was active in gathering support for Abe's re-election as president of the Liberal Democratic Party that year.[9]
Suga and Kishida governments
[edit]
After Abe's resignation as Prime Minister, his successorYoshihide Sugaopted to retain Motegi as foreign minister after taking office in September 2020. As Suga was known to be weak in foreign affairs, this gave Motegi an opportunity to build his reputation and brand, while maintaining the foreign policy initiatives from the Abe government.[11]
In October 2020, Motegi met withU.K. International Trade SecretaryLiz Trussto sign a bilateraleconomic partnership agreementestimated to raise British exports to Japan by 17.2% (¥355 billion) and Japanese exports to Britain by 79.9% (¥1.775 trillion). In the trade package, British import tariffs are expected to reduce by up to 60% forKobe beef,31% for the Japanese chocolate snackPocky,22% forbluefin tuna,13% forudon noodles,and 6% forsoy sauce.[12]
After Suga's resignation as Prime Minister, his successorFumio Kishidaopted to retain Motegi as foreign minister after taking office in October 2021.Nikkeinoted that this sent a message of continuity in Japan's policies toward China and Taiwan.[13]
He was appointed Secretary-General of the LDP by LDP leader Fumio Kishida after the resignation of the previous incumbentAkira Amarifollowing the2021 general elections.He leads one of the main factions of the LDP party and is rumored to be a potential contender to become Prime Minister.[14]
The relationship between Motegi and Prime Minister Kishida has been described as extremely strained. Motegi has been described as intensely passionate in his attempt to succeed Kishida as Prime Minister, and Kishida has dedicated a significant amount of time to disrupting him; with factionalism now in peril due to the2023–2024 Japanese slush fund scandal,Motegi's future within the party has been described as possibly in danger. Kishida has also allegedly been dedicating time to blocking Motegi from attempting to pursue his ambition further.[15][16]
References
[edit]- ^Bosack, Michael."The Evolution of LDP Factions - Tokyo Review".Retrieved10 September2022.
- ^ab"Abe Cabinet".The Japan Times.Retrieved8 January2013.
- ^abc"Toshimitsu MOTEGI".Prime Minister of Japan and His Cabinet.Retrieved29 August2020.
- ^"Profile of Minister for Foreign Affairs MOTEGI Toshimitsu".Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.Retrieved29 August2020.
- ^Japan Times,"Fukuda's new lineup", 3 August 2008.
- ^"Signing of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership".Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.Retrieved31 August2020.
- ^"Japan and U.S. approaching 'final stage' of trade talks, says negotiator Toshimitsu Motegi".The Japan Times.22 August 2019.Retrieved1 September2020.
- ^Kato, Masaya (9 December 2019)."Japan's 'Trump whisperer' emerges as potential Abe successor".Nikkei Asian Review.Retrieved29 August2020.
- ^abShimada, Gaku (7 September 2019)."Abe to pick trade point man Motegi as Japan's top diplomat".Nikkei Asian Review.Retrieved29 August2020.
- ^Reynolds, Isabel; Nobuhiro, Emi (2 February 2018)."Incense Sticks Come Back to Burn Japan's Economy Minister".Bloomberg.Retrieved3 February2018.
- ^Bosack, Michael MacArthur (16 September 2020)."Breaking down Suga's picks for his first Cabinet".The Japan Times.Retrieved16 September2020.
- ^"Trade pact with Japan to cut British tariff on Pocky snack by 31%".The Japan Times.24 October 2020.Retrieved4 November2020.
- ^"Japan's Kishida to retain foreign and defense ministers".Nikkei Asia.Retrieved3 October2021.
- ^"LDP heavyweight Toshimitsu Motegi seen as solidifying foothold in his party faction".19 October 2022.
- ^"Ngạn điền tổng lý が chu 囲に “Tự dân đảng が chung わってしまう” chính luân thẩm を đặt した mậu mộc can sự trường を thay đổi するプランが nổi lên ".dailyshincho.Daily Shincho.Retrieved14 March2024.
- ^Johnston, Eric."Kishida's three challenges: Discipline, by-elections and Motegi".japantimes.The Japan Times.Retrieved14 March2024.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Academics | |
- 1955 births
- Living people
- Government ministers of Japan
- Japan New Party politicians
- Japanese management consultants
- Japanese reporters and correspondents
- Harvard Kennedy School alumni
- Liberal Democratic Party (Japan) politicians
- McKinsey & Company people
- Members of the House of Representatives (Japan)
- Politicians from Tochigi Prefecture
- University of Tokyo alumni
- Academic staff of Waseda University
- Marubeni
- 21st-century Japanese politicians
- Foreign ministers of Japan