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Profileprofile ProfileProfile Sadakazu Tanigaki Japan’s opposition leader adakazu Tanigaki has a thankless task. The newly elected Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has 64-year-old politician became president of pledged to refrain from visiting Yasukuni. S the opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in late September, having been elected Struggling leader to revive the party’s weakened position ahead Despite such moves, Tanigaki’s efforts to revitalise of next year’s elections to the upper house of the the LDP have not been successful. On 25 October, Diet. Fulfilling this objective will be no easy feat the party lost by-elections in Kanagawa and Shi- for Tanigaki, primarily because the former ruling zuoka prefectures. One of the key reasons for the party’s political credibility is at its lowest level since party’s recent electoral losses is Tanigaki’s poor the LDP’s crushing defeat in the 30 August general personal approval ratings. According to the latest election. opinion poll conducted by the Nikkei newspaper This was only the second time the LDP had been in October, only 29 per cent of the respondents ousted from power since its inception in 1955. The said they had high expectations for Tanigaki. Even party’s dominance had allowed for a highly stable among LDP supporters, only 46 per cent of the political system, largely run by the LDP’s various people polled said they believed in the LDP leader’s factions and powerful bureaucracy, albeit with a ability to enhance the party’s political legitimacy. rotation of relatively short-lived prime ministers. Further, the LDP’s damaged political fortunes have compelled many members of Tanigaki’s faction Political rise within the opposition party to defect to Hatoyama’s Tanigaki is a second-generation politician. His PA/1348746 ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ). father Senichi ran for the lower house and was Sadakazu Tanigaki speaks during an LDP meeting. It is likely that voters do not view Tanigaki as a consecutively elected for eight terms. He served new and fresh leader who will be able to turn the as minister of education in the Masayoshi Ohira When Tanigaki ran for the party’s presidency in party around. Rather, his attempt to run for the cabinet between 1979 and 1980. When he died in September 2006, he stated that unlike Koizumi, he LDP presidency in September 2006 demonstrated 1983, his eldest son Sadakazu took over his father’s would not repeatedly visit Tokyo’s Yasukuni shrine his history as LDP stalwart. There were a total of constituency in Kyoto. if he ever became prime minister. The shrine four potential candidates to succeed Koizumi and Sadakazu Tanigaki, a wine lover and a bicycle- honours Japan’s war dead, including 14 Class A they were collectively called ‘Kozo Asagaki’ – a riding enthusiast, graduated from the faculty of law war criminals, and has in the past soured regional name coined using one character from each of at the University of Tokyo in 1972. After gradua- relations with China and North Korea. However, their four names: Abe, Tanigaki, Aso and former tion, he worked as his father’s secretary, while on 19 October, Tanigaki visited the shrine as oppo- chief cabinet secretary Yasuo Fukuda. All of these studying for the national bar exam. He passed it in sition leader. He is likely to have believed the visit figures except for Tanigaki became prime ministers 1979 at the age of 34, specialising in tax law. would improve the party’s credibility as Japan’s at various times. As such, Tanigaki’s image is one of Since the beginning of his political career, War-Bereaved Families Association is a power- a seasoned, well-entrenched LDP politician, rather Tanigaki has belonged to Kochi-kai, the LDP’s ful lobby and a key base of support for the LDP. than a new inspirational leader, suggesting that he once-powerful faction that was founded by the Tanigaki currently serves as chairman of the Kyoto will face considerable challenges in boosting his late prime minister Hayato Ikeda in 1957. It forms Prefecture War-Bereaved Association. In contrast, political legitimacy in the eyes of voters next year. part of the lineage of the now-defunct Liberal Party and pursued policies focusing on the economy. QUOTE CORNER The Kochi-kai faction has produced four prime ministers – Ikeda, Ohira, Zenko Suzuki and Kiichi “[It’s like] sending the signal, I’m on my way to another job. Miyazawa. It was the second-largest LDP faction On Monday I’m back again and I didn’t get it but I still love you.” until January 2001, when 42 of its 62 Diet mem- Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt justifies the secrecy around bers broke away to launch a new group. Since 2002, nominations for the EU’s top jobs, 11 November. Tanigaki has led a minor faction in the LDP, for- merly part of the Kochi-kai wing, with 11 members “Democracy means including all opinions.” in the lower house and four in the upper house. European Parliament spokesperson Federico de Girolamo Tanigaki is perceived within the party as a politi- cian with strong economic policy ideas. In 1997, he on a new far-right grouping, 12 October. joined the Ryutaro Hashimoto cabinet for the first “In place of an archaic society where the leader thinks and time as director-general of the Science and Tech- nology Agency. He served in a number of positions decides for all, we will become free and responsible.” under then prime minister Junichiro Koizumi, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, 12 November. including in the Financial Reconstruction Com- mission, the National Public Safety Commission, “Everybody out there ought to just shut up.” and ultimately as finance minister from September US Defense Secretary Robert Gates on leaks on Afghanistan policy, 13 November. 2003 to September 2006. TO SUBSCRIBE CALL US: (+1 800) 824 0768 (if inside the US), Europe / Rest of World: +44 (0) 1858 438756, (print) +44 (0) 20 8700 3750 (online) Or visit the website and subscribe using our secure server..
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