Fumio Kyuma
Encyclopedia
is a Japan
ese politician who has served in the Diet of Japan
since 1980. Kyuma graduated from the University of Tokyo
in 1964 and worked for the Ministry of Agriculture
. He was elected to the Nagasaki Prefectural
Assembly in 1971 serving three terms before being elected to the Diet as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
for Nagasaki
Number 2.
Ryutaro Hashimoto
. He served in a variety of LDP posts in Junichiro Koizumi
's cabinet. He again became responsible for defence in September 2006.
, contradicting earlier comments that he had made referring to China's military as a threat.
In December 2006, Kyuma claimed that although former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi supported the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq
, the invasion did not have the official support of the Japanese government. He later had to withdraw his remarks, admitting that the Japanese "Cabinet
officially adopted a unified view supporting the U.S.-led war." On January 24, 2007 he said that the U.S. decision to invade Iraq was a mistake.
In January 2007 he criticized the United States
over not getting the approval of Okinawa's governor during efforts to relocate the Marine Corps Air Station Futenma
. The base and its relocation has been a source of friction between the residents of Okinawa and the U.S. government.
in Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture
on June 30. Kyuma said "I now have come to accept in my mind that in order to end the war, it could not be helped
that an atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki
and that countless numbers of people suffered great tragedy." After appearing on a Fuji TV morning news show on July 1, saying he did not think an apology would be necessary, he apologized later the same day. When this would not calm the critics, Kyuma finally submitted his resignation on July 3. Asked about the reason for his resignation, Kyuma is quoted as saying that he did not want his comments to become a "minus" for the Prime Minister. Yuriko Koike
was appointed his successor the same day.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese politician who has served in the Diet of Japan
Diet of Japan
The is Japan's bicameral legislature. It is composed of a lower house, called the House of Representatives, and an upper house, called the House of Councillors. Both houses of the Diet are directly elected under a parallel voting system. In addition to passing laws, the Diet is formally...
since 1980. Kyuma graduated from the University of Tokyo
University of Tokyo
, abbreviated as , is a major research university located in Tokyo, Japan. The University has 10 faculties with a total of around 30,000 students, 2,100 of whom are foreign. Its five campuses are in Hongō, Komaba, Kashiwa, Shirokane and Nakano. It is considered to be the most prestigious university...
in 1964 and worked for the Ministry of Agriculture
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Japan)
The ' a cabinet ministry in the government of Japan responsible for oversight of the agriculture, forestry and fishing industries. Its acronym is MAFF.-History:...
. He was elected to the Nagasaki Prefectural
Nagasaki Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyūshū. The capital is the city of Nagasaki.- History :Nagasaki Prefecture was created by merging of the western half of the former province of Hizen with the island provinces of Tsushima and Iki...
Assembly in 1971 serving three terms before being elected to the Diet as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)
The , frequently abbreviated to LDP or , is a centre-right political party in Japan. It is one of the most consistently successful political parties in the democratic world. The LDP ruled almost continuously for nearly 54 years from its founding in 1955 until its defeat in the 2009 election...
for Nagasaki
Nagasaki Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyūshū. The capital is the city of Nagasaki.- History :Nagasaki Prefecture was created by merging of the western half of the former province of Hizen with the island provinces of Tsushima and Iki...
Number 2.
Defence Minister
Kyuma served as the Minister for Defence between 1996 and 1998 under Prime MinisterPrime Minister of Japan
The is the head of government of Japan. He is appointed by the Emperor of Japan after being designated by the Diet from among its members, and must enjoy the confidence of the House of Representatives to remain in office...
Ryutaro Hashimoto
Ryutaro Hashimoto
was a Japanese politician who served as the 82nd and 83rd Prime Minister of Japan from January 11, 1996 to July 30, 1998. He was the leader of one of the largest factions within the ruling LDP through most of the 1990s and remained a powerful back-room player in Japanese politics until scandal...
. He served in a variety of LDP posts in Junichiro Koizumi
Junichiro Koizumi
is a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan from 2001 to 2006. He retired from politics when his term in parliament ended.Widely seen as a maverick leader of the Liberal Democratic Party , he became known as an economic reformer, focusing on Japan's government debt and the...
's cabinet. He again became responsible for defence in September 2006.
Controversial remarks
In September 2006, shortly after he was appointed Defence Minister, Kyuma stated that the Chinese military was a concernSino-Japanese relations
China and Japan are geographically separated only by a relatively narrow stretch of ocean. China has strongly influenced Japan with its writing system, architecture, culture, religion, philosophy, and law...
, contradicting earlier comments that he had made referring to China's military as a threat.
In December 2006, Kyuma claimed that although former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi supported the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
, the invasion did not have the official support of the Japanese government. He later had to withdraw his remarks, admitting that the Japanese "Cabinet
Cabinet of Japan
The of Japan is the executive branch of the government of Japan. It consists of the Prime Minister and up to fourteen other members, called Ministers of State. The Prime Minister is designated by the Diet, and the remaining ministers are appointed and dismissed by the Prime Minister...
officially adopted a unified view supporting the U.S.-led war." On January 24, 2007 he said that the U.S. decision to invade Iraq was a mistake.
In January 2007 he criticized the United States
Japanese-American relations
The relationship between the United States and Japan is a very strong one. The United States considers Japan to be one of its closest allies and the Japanese in turn consider the United States to be a close ally as well.-Country comparison:...
over not getting the approval of Okinawa's governor during efforts to relocate the Marine Corps Air Station Futenma
Marine Corps Air Station Futenma
Marine Corps Air Station Futenma or MCAS Futenma is a United States Marine Corps base located in Ginowan, northeast of Naha, on the island of Okinawa. It is home to approximately 4,000 Marines of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing and has been a U.S. military airbase since the island was occupied...
. The base and its relocation has been a source of friction between the residents of Okinawa and the U.S. government.
Resignation
He resigned as Defence Minister on July 3, 2007 for remarks made at Reitaku UniversityReitaku University
is a private university known as Reitaku in Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. The origin of Reitaku University is Moralogy School which was launched in 1935 and Reitaku University was established in 1950.-Department:College of Foreign Languages...
in Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture
Chiba Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region and the Greater Tokyo Area. Its capital is Chiba City.- History :Chiba Prefecture was established on June 15, 1873 with the merger of Kisarazu Prefecture and Inba Prefecture...
on June 30. Kyuma said "I now have come to accept in my mind that in order to end the war, it could not be helped
Shikata ga nai
, , is a Japanese language phrase meaning "it can't be helped" or "nothing can be done about it". , is an alternative.-Cultural associations:The phrase has been used by many western writers to describe the ability of the Japanese people to maintain dignity in the face of an unavoidable tragedy or...
that an atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki
Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
During the final stages of World War II in 1945, the United States conducted two atomic bombings against the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan, the first on August 6, 1945, and the second on August 9, 1945. These two events are the only use of nuclear weapons in war to date.For six months...
and that countless numbers of people suffered great tragedy." After appearing on a Fuji TV morning news show on July 1, saying he did not think an apology would be necessary, he apologized later the same day. When this would not calm the critics, Kyuma finally submitted his resignation on July 3. Asked about the reason for his resignation, Kyuma is quoted as saying that he did not want his comments to become a "minus" for the Prime Minister. Yuriko Koike
Yuriko Koike
is a Japanese politician, who was the Minister of Defense in the Cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, but resigned August 27, 2007 after only 54 days in office...
was appointed his successor the same day.