Makiko Tanaka
Encyclopedia
is a Japan
ese politician, the daughter of former Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka
.
Tanaka attended high school at Germantown Friends School
in the United States
and graduated from Waseda University
. She spent most of her early adulthood working with her father's political machine Etsuzankai organization, and was the first lady to her father since her mother, Hana, was absent due to long-standing illness. She was elected to the Lower House in 1993, shortly after her father's death.
Tanaka was the first female foreign minister
of Japan, from April 2001 to January 2002, but was fired from the cabinet
after making remarks critical of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi
. Later that year, she was kicked out of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
and barred from party membership for two years.
In August 2002, Tanaka resigned from the Diet after allegations that she had embezzled her secretaries' civil service
salaries. A Tokyo court cleared her in September, and she ran for the Diet again as an independent in November 2003.
Her husband Naoki Suzuki
, whom she married in 1969 was adopted as an adult into her family, because she is an only child.
In August 2009, Tanaka and her husband joined the opposition Democratic Party of Japan
.
Currently, she is now the chairperson of the Committee on Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of the current Diet session.
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, the daughter of former Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka
Kakuei Tanaka
was a Japanese politician and the 64th and 65th Prime Minister of Japan from 7 July 1972 to 22 December 1972 and from 22 December 1972 to 9 December 1974 respectively...
.
Tanaka attended high school at Germantown Friends School
Germantown Friends School
Germantown Friends School is a coeducational K-12 school in the Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the United States under the supervision of Germantown Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends . It is governed by a School Committee whose members are drawn mainly...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and graduated from Waseda University
Waseda University
, abbreviated as , is one of the most prestigious private universities in Japan and Asia. Its main campuses are located in the northern part of Shinjuku, Tokyo. Founded in 1882 as Tokyo Senmon Gakko, the institution was renamed "Waseda University" in 1902. It is known for its liberal climate...
. She spent most of her early adulthood working with her father's political machine Etsuzankai organization, and was the first lady to her father since her mother, Hana, was absent due to long-standing illness. She was elected to the Lower House in 1993, shortly after her father's death.
Tanaka was the first female foreign minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
of Japan, from April 2001 to January 2002, but was fired from the cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
after making remarks critical of Prime Minister 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...
. Later that year, she was kicked out of the ruling 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...
and barred from party membership for two years.
In August 2002, Tanaka resigned from the Diet after allegations that she had embezzled her secretaries' civil service
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
salaries. A Tokyo court cleared her in September, and she ran for the Diet again as an independent in November 2003.
Her husband Naoki Suzuki
Naoki Tanaka
is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet , from Niigata Prefectural eletorate. He is a native of Kanazawa, Ishikawa and graduate of Keio University. When he married Makiko Tanaka he changed his family name to hers. He was elected to...
, whom she married in 1969 was adopted as an adult into her family, because she is an only child.
In August 2009, Tanaka and her husband joined the opposition Democratic Party of Japan
Democratic Party of Japan
The is a political party in Japan founded in 1998 by the merger of several opposition parties. Its socially liberal platform is generally considered center-left in the Japanese political spectrum...
.
Currently, she is now the chairperson of the Committee on Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of the current Diet session.