Koichi Kato (LDP)
Encyclopedia
is a Japan
ese politician
. Born in Tsuruoka, Yamagata Prefecture
, he is a member of the House of Representatives
and the Liberal Democratic Party
.
he joined the Foreign ministry in 1963, which led to stints at the Japanese embassies in Taipei
and Washington, D.C.
. In 1967 he completed a Master's degree
at Harvard University
. After continuing his foreign service career in Hong Kong
he returned to Japan as an aide in the China Affairs Bureau of the Foreign Ministry. His experience in foreign affairs resulted in fluent English and Chinese, and he remains deeply interested in relations with China.
Kato was first elected to the Diet in 1972, representing his native Yamagata and has represented that area continuously except for a brief forced resignation due to scandal in 2002. He was aligned with the Kōchikai (then called Ōhira) faction of the LDP, which produced three Japanese Prime Ministers; Masayoshi Ōhira
, Zenkō Suzuki
, and Kiichi Miyazawa
. The power of this faction provided Kato ample opportunity for promotion, and he served in several Cabinet Positions through the 1980s and early 90s. In 1992, he was elected Secretary-General of the LDP, a time when the traditional dominance of the party was being challenged.
administration Kato formed a relationship with two other
young LDP reformers, Taku Yamasaki
and Jun'ichirō Koizumi
. The three together became known as YKK after the initials of their last names. Originally the trio had agreed to sway their factions towards the new generation of LDP leaders, and marginalize the old guard within the Diet. With the election of Miyazawa (then leader of Kato's own faction) in 1991, YKK gained greater prestige and power within the party. From the Miyazawa era onwards, YKK represented the power base of the anti-mainstream faction in the LDP. All three leaders made repeated tilts at the party leadership in the 1990s, but were unsuccessful. In 1998 Kato assumed leadership of the Kochikai Faction, taking over from Miyazawa.
Upon the sudden illness and death of Keizō Obuchi
in May 2000, Kato did not make a leadership challenge, believing that internal strife would not be healthy for a party in mourning. By November, however, displeased with the slow pace of reform and poor public image in the Mori
administration, Kato made his move. After consulting with the opposition parties, Kato realized that with support of his and Yamasaki's factions, a vote of no-confidence in Mori would pass in the Diet. Initial public reaction to Kato's announcement of this vote was good, with Mori's approval ratings diving to 30%. Unfortunately for Kato, the LDP Secretary-General at this time, Hiromu Nonaka, was a strong supporter of Mori. Nonaka launched a harsh round of party discipline, threatening to expel any LDP members that voted against Mori.
Nonaka's threats had the desired effect: even within his own faction Kato's support dried up. Knowing that he could not win, Kato and his remaining supporters abstained from the no-confidence vote as a face-saving measure. The damage had been done, however. Kato and Yamasaki were left to bear the full brunt of public humiliation. The aftermath of Kato's rebellion was disastrous. A large segment of his faction split off, weakening his influence in the Diet. Public opinion that had initially supported ousting Mori now blamed Kato for his failure. The opposition parties were frustrated with his unwillingness to break from the LDP. Both Kato and Yamasaki had been considered candidates for Prime Minister, but with the loss of prestige resulting from the Mori affair, they had lost their chance.
It should be noted, that with Nonaka's resignation shortly after Kato's rebellion, the path was clear for someone to replace Mori. Jun'ichirō Koizumi, the only member of YKK undamaged by the events of November 2001, finally gained control of the LDP. While Kato and Yamasaki had failed, the reformist, anti-mainstream ideals of YKK had finally moved to the forefront of Japanese politics, providing validation for Kato and his views.
. Ozawa had been a strong advocate for reform within the mainstream Tanaka/Takeshita faction, but he had chosen to split from the party in 1993 and form the Japan Renewal Party
, rather than continue within the LDP. This was seen as a serious betrayal by many, including Kato. It is interesting to note that when Kato was in a similar position in 2000, he chose party loyalty, despite his chances of considerable influence in the opposition had he crossed over. When the LDP was considering a merger with Ozawa's Liberal Party
in the late 90s, Kato was strongly opposed to bringing Ozawa back to the LDP fold. Ozawa and Kato are often portrayed as arch-nemeses, despite their very similar views on economic and political reform (in foreign policy Kato is somewhat less hawkish than Ozawa, advocating a more cautious international role for Japan).
in the late 1980s, tarnishing his reputation for several years. In 2002 he was the centre of a major scandal involving tax evasion, bribery and misuse of political funds. His secretary Saburo Sato had been charging a "Kato Consumption Tax" to companies wanting access to Kato while seeking public contracts. Sato had also failed to declare ￥100 million in taxes. While Kato denied any knowledge of the affair, few believed that such widespread corruption could have occurred in his office without his approval. It was later revealed that he had been using funds earmarked for political use to pay the rent on his Tokyo
apartment. Faced with this evidence, Kato acquiesced to demands for his resignation. In November 2003 he made his return to the Diet, having retreated from politics long enough for the scandal to die down.
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
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. Born in Tsuruoka, Yamagata Prefecture
Yamagata Prefecture
-Fruit:Yamagata Prefecture is the largest producer of cherries and pears in Japan. A large quantity of other kinds of fruits such as grapes, apples, peaches, melons, persimmons and watermelons are also produced.- Demographics :...
, he is a member of the House of Representatives
House of Representatives of Japan
The is the lower house of the Diet of Japan. The House of Councillors of Japan is the upper house.The House of Representatives has 480 members, elected for a four-year term. Of these, 180 members are elected from 11 multi-member constituencies by a party-list system of proportional representation,...
and the Liberal Democratic Party
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...
.
Political career
After graduating from the University of TokyoUniversity 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...
he joined the Foreign ministry in 1963, which led to stints at the Japanese embassies in Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
and Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. In 1967 he completed a Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. After continuing his foreign service career in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
he returned to Japan as an aide in the China Affairs Bureau of the Foreign Ministry. His experience in foreign affairs resulted in fluent English and Chinese, and he remains deeply interested in relations with China.
Kato was first elected to the Diet in 1972, representing his native Yamagata and has represented that area continuously except for a brief forced resignation due to scandal in 2002. He was aligned with the Kōchikai (then called Ōhira) faction of the LDP, which produced three Japanese Prime Ministers; Masayoshi Ōhira
Masayoshi Ohira
was a Japanese politician and the 68th and 69th Prime Minister of Japan from December 7, 1978 to June 12, 1980. He is the most recent Japanese prime minister to die in office.He was born in present day Kan'onji, Kagawa and attended Hitotsubashi University....
, Zenkō Suzuki
Zenko Suzuki
was a Japanese politician and the 70th Prime Minister of Japan from July 17, 1980 to November 27, 1982.Suzuki graduated from Tokyo University of Fisheries in 1935...
, and Kiichi Miyazawa
Kiichi Miyazawa
was a Japanese politician and the 78th Prime Minister from November 5, 1991 to August 9, 1993.-Early life and career:Miyazawa was born in Fukuyama, Hiroshima Prefecture, and graduated from Tokyo Imperial University with a degree in law. In 1942 he joined the Ministry of Finance...
. The power of this faction provided Kato ample opportunity for promotion, and he served in several Cabinet Positions through the 1980s and early 90s. In 1992, he was elected Secretary-General of the LDP, a time when the traditional dominance of the party was being challenged.
YKK and the 2000 leadership challenge
Always seen as something of a maverick, during the KaifuToshiki Kaifu
is a Japanese politician who was the 76th and 77th Prime Minister of Japan from 1989 to 1991.- Career :He was born in Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, and was educated at Chuo University and Waseda University. A member of the Liberal Democratic Party , Kaifu ran successfully for the Diet in 1960 and...
administration Kato formed a relationship with two other
young LDP reformers, Taku Yamasaki
Taku Yamasaki
is a Japanese politician, a member of the House of Representatives of Japan. Born in Dalian, Manchukuo, he is a graduate of Waseda University. He worked at Bridgestone.He lost his vision in one eye in childhood....
and Jun'ichirō 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...
. The three together became known as YKK after the initials of their last names. Originally the trio had agreed to sway their factions towards the new generation of LDP leaders, and marginalize the old guard within the Diet. With the election of Miyazawa (then leader of Kato's own faction) in 1991, YKK gained greater prestige and power within the party. From the Miyazawa era onwards, YKK represented the power base of the anti-mainstream faction in the LDP. All three leaders made repeated tilts at the party leadership in the 1990s, but were unsuccessful. In 1998 Kato assumed leadership of the Kochikai Faction, taking over from Miyazawa.
Upon the sudden illness and death of Keizō Obuchi
Keizo Obuchi
was a Japanese politician who served in the House of Representatives for twelve terms, and ultimately as the 84th Prime Minister of Japan from July 30, 1998 to April 5, 2000. His political career ended when he suffered a serious and ultimately fatal stroke....
in May 2000, Kato did not make a leadership challenge, believing that internal strife would not be healthy for a party in mourning. By November, however, displeased with the slow pace of reform and poor public image in the Mori
Yoshiro Mori
is a Japanese politician who served as the 85th and 86th Prime Minister of Japan starting at 5 April 2000 ending 26 April 2001. Described as having "the heart of a flea and the brain of a shark," he was an unpopular prime minister mainly remembered today for his many gaffes and situationally...
administration, Kato made his move. After consulting with the opposition parties, Kato realized that with support of his and Yamasaki's factions, a vote of no-confidence in Mori would pass in the Diet. Initial public reaction to Kato's announcement of this vote was good, with Mori's approval ratings diving to 30%. Unfortunately for Kato, the LDP Secretary-General at this time, Hiromu Nonaka, was a strong supporter of Mori. Nonaka launched a harsh round of party discipline, threatening to expel any LDP members that voted against Mori.
Nonaka's threats had the desired effect: even within his own faction Kato's support dried up. Knowing that he could not win, Kato and his remaining supporters abstained from the no-confidence vote as a face-saving measure. The damage had been done, however. Kato and Yamasaki were left to bear the full brunt of public humiliation. The aftermath of Kato's rebellion was disastrous. A large segment of his faction split off, weakening his influence in the Diet. Public opinion that had initially supported ousting Mori now blamed Kato for his failure. The opposition parties were frustrated with his unwillingness to break from the LDP. Both Kato and Yamasaki had been considered candidates for Prime Minister, but with the loss of prestige resulting from the Mori affair, they had lost their chance.
It should be noted, that with Nonaka's resignation shortly after Kato's rebellion, the path was clear for someone to replace Mori. Jun'ichirō Koizumi, the only member of YKK undamaged by the events of November 2001, finally gained control of the LDP. While Kato and Yamasaki had failed, the reformist, anti-mainstream ideals of YKK had finally moved to the forefront of Japanese politics, providing validation for Kato and his views.
Kato and Ichirō Ozawa
Kato has had a sometimes difficult relationship with fellow reformer Ichirō OzawaIchiro Ozawa
is a Japanese politician. Formerly a chief secretary of the Liberal Democratic Party , he later defected from the LDP. He was the president of Japan's main opposition party, the Democratic Party of Japan , from 2006 until May 2009, when he resigned over a fund scandal, and secretary general of the...
. Ozawa had been a strong advocate for reform within the mainstream Tanaka/Takeshita faction, but he had chosen to split from the party in 1993 and form the Japan Renewal Party
Japan Renewal Party
The Japan Renewal Party was a Japanese political party that existed in the early 1990s. It was founded in 1993 by 44 members of the Liberal Democratic Party led by Tsutomu Hata and Ichirō Ozawa...
, rather than continue within the LDP. This was seen as a serious betrayal by many, including Kato. It is interesting to note that when Kato was in a similar position in 2000, he chose party loyalty, despite his chances of considerable influence in the opposition had he crossed over. When the LDP was considering a merger with Ozawa's Liberal Party
Liberal Party (Japan, 1998)
The was a Japanese liberal party formed in 1998 by Ichirō Ozawa and Hirohisa Fujii. It is now defunct, having joined the Democratic Party of Japan in 2003....
in the late 90s, Kato was strongly opposed to bringing Ozawa back to the LDP fold. Ozawa and Kato are often portrayed as arch-nemeses, despite their very similar views on economic and political reform (in foreign policy Kato is somewhat less hawkish than Ozawa, advocating a more cautious international role for Japan).
Scandals
Like many Japanese politicians, Kato has been involved in several scandals. He was implicated in the Recruit scandalRecruit scandal
The was an insider trading and corruption scandal that forced many prominent Japanese politicians to resign in 1988.Recruit is a human resources and classifieds company based in Tokyo. Its chairman, Hiromasa Ezoe, offered a number of shares in a Recruit subsidiary, Cosmos, to business leaders and...
in the late 1980s, tarnishing his reputation for several years. In 2002 he was the centre of a major scandal involving tax evasion, bribery and misuse of political funds. His secretary Saburo Sato had been charging a "Kato Consumption Tax" to companies wanting access to Kato while seeking public contracts. Sato had also failed to declare ￥100 million in taxes. While Kato denied any knowledge of the affair, few believed that such widespread corruption could have occurred in his office without his approval. It was later revealed that he had been using funds earmarked for political use to pay the rent on his Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
apartment. Faced with this evidence, Kato acquiesced to demands for his resignation. In November 2003 he made his return to the Diet, having retreated from politics long enough for the scandal to die down.
House fire
In mid-August, 2006, Kato's adjoining house and office burned to the ground on the anniversary of Japan's defeat in WWII. The attack was confirmed as Arson and the lead suspect was expected to be charged some time in September 2006 http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/rightwing-nationalist-tide-threatens-japan-warns-politicalveteran/2006/08/29/1156816899270.html.External links
- Home Page http://www.katokoichi.org/ (Japanese)
- Home Page http://www.katokoichi.org/english/iso.html (English, not updated)