Peter Sugiyama
Encyclopedia
Peter Lawrence Naoya Sugiyama (April 19, 1943–June 10, 2007) was a Palau
an politician.
. He moved to Koror
in 1914 at the invitation of his uncle, after the Japanese Empire seized control of the islands as part of its World War I
invasion of German New Guinea
(which control would later be formalised by the League of Nations as the South Pacific Mandate
). He began his new life there as a teacher, but would go on to manage a fruit packing company and a cafe. He married Rosang Sayoko Serek, the daughter of a local chieftain.
Peter Sugiyama himself was born to Hayato and Rosang on April 19, 1943. After completing his early education at Koror Elementary School and Mindszenty Intermediate School, he went overseas to continue his education, first to Xavier High School
on Weno
(then also part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
, now a municipality of Chuuk
, Federated States of Micronesia
) and then the University of Guam
, where he studied political science and history (BA 1967) and then sociology and public administration (BA 1968). In 1982, he was a witness to the shooting death of Bedor Bins, which occurred during an assassination attempt on his son Roman Bedor; the assassins also fired a shot at Sugiyama himself, but missed.
Sugiyama was married to fellow politician Akiko C. Bedor Sugiyama
. She was the first woman elected to the Palau National Congress
, and in 2005 also became one of the first, along with Vicki Kanai, to be elected as a state governor.
In his position on the CAA, he ran a program to help Palauans develop fishing and agricultural skills to earn income, and expressed opposition to port development in Koror due to its potential environmental effects.
During his last term, he was elected president of the senate.
, and hoped to be next in line after Nakamura stepped down at the end of his second term due to term limit
s. However, in July 2000, Nakamura announced his support for his vice president Tommy Remengesau
's presidential campaign. With this strong support, Rememgesau thus came in first in the primaries; out of 9,221 votes cast, he took almost 43% (4,000 votes), against just 22% (2,050) for second-place Sugiyama, with the rest distributed among minister of education Billy Kuartei, senator Santos Olikong, and Angaur
governor Ben Roberto. The three other losers in the primaries threw their weight behind Sugiyama for the general elections, and he managed to significantly narrow the gap between himself and Remengesau. In the end, out of 10,718 votes (an 81% turnout), Sugiyama lost by a margin of 674 votes.
Palau
Palau , officially the Republic of Palau , is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, east of the Philippines and south of Tokyo. In 1978, after three decades as being part of the United Nations trusteeship, Palau chose independence instead of becoming part of the Federated States of Micronesia, a...
an politician.
Personal life
Sugiyama's father was a Japanese immigrantJapanese settlement in Palau
There is a small Japanese community in Palau, which mainly consists of Japanese expatriates residing in Palau over a long-term basis. A few Japanese expatriates started to reside in Palau after it gained independence in 1994, and established long-term businesses in the country...
. He moved to Koror
Koror
Koror is the state comprising the main commercial centre of the Republic of Palau. It consists of several islands, the most prominent being Koror Island ....
in 1914 at the invitation of his uncle, after the Japanese Empire seized control of the islands as part of its World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
invasion of German New Guinea
German New Guinea
German New Guinea was the first part of the German colonial empire. It was a protectorate from 1884 until 1914 when it fell to Australia following the outbreak of the First World War. It consisted of the northeastern part of New Guinea and several nearby island groups...
(which control would later be formalised by the League of Nations as the South Pacific Mandate
South Pacific Mandate
The was the Japanese League of Nations mandate consisting of several groups of islands in the Pacific Ocean which came under the administration of Japan after the defeat of the German Empire in World War I.-Early history:Under the terms of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, after the start of World...
). He began his new life there as a teacher, but would go on to manage a fruit packing company and a cafe. He married Rosang Sayoko Serek, the daughter of a local chieftain.
Peter Sugiyama himself was born to Hayato and Rosang on April 19, 1943. After completing his early education at Koror Elementary School and Mindszenty Intermediate School, he went overseas to continue his education, first to Xavier High School
Xavier High School, Micronesia
Xavier High School is a Jesuit coeducational high school located on the island of Weno in Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia. It was established in 1952. It was the first high school in the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Bishop Thomas Feeney, S.J., D.D...
on Weno
Weno
Weno is an island municipality of Chuuk State of the Federated States of Micronesia. It is located in the Chuuk Lagoon and serves as the main center of commerce and is also the state capital. It has a population of approximately 6,000 to 7,000 people.-External links:*...
(then also part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
The Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands was a United Nations trust territory in Micronesia administered by the United States from 1947 to 1986.-History:...
, now a municipality of Chuuk
Chuuk
Chuuk — formerly Truk, Ruk, Hogoleu, Torres, Ugulat, and Lugulus — is an island group in the south western part of the Pacific Ocean. It comprises one of the four states of the Federated States of Micronesia , along with Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap. Chuuk is the most populous of the FSM's...
, Federated States of Micronesia
Federated States of Micronesia
The Federated States of Micronesia or FSM is an independent, sovereign island nation, made up of four states from west to east: Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae. It comprises approximately 607 islands with c...
) and then the University of Guam
University of Guam
University of Guam is a four-year land-grant institution, located in the village of Mangilao on the island of Guam in the Western Pacific Ocean...
, where he studied political science and history (BA 1967) and then sociology and public administration (BA 1968). In 1982, he was a witness to the shooting death of Bedor Bins, which occurred during an assassination attempt on his son Roman Bedor; the assassins also fired a shot at Sugiyama himself, but missed.
Sugiyama was married to fellow politician Akiko C. Bedor Sugiyama
Akiko Sugiyama
Akiko C. Bedor Sugiyama is a Palauan politician, and widow of Palauan senator Peter Sugiyama. As late as 1995, she was the only woman who had ever been elected to the Palau National Congress. In 2005, she was elected governor of Ngardmau State in a special election after the impeachment of Schwartz...
. She was the first woman elected to the Palau National Congress
Palau National Congress
Palau has bicameral legislature, the Palau National Congress , consisting of the House of Delegates and the Senate of Palau. The House of Delegates has 16 members, each serving four-year terms in single-seat constituencies. The Senate has 9 members, also serving four-year terms in single-seat...
, and in 2005 also became one of the first, along with Vicki Kanai, to be elected as a state governor.
On public bodies
Beginning in 1970, Sugiyama served in leadership positions on a number of public bodies, including:- Vice Chairman of the Palau Economic Development Planning Council
- Vice Chairman of the T.T. Coconut Processing Council
- Chairman of the Palau Public Lands Authority
- Executive Director of the Palau Community Action Agency
In his position on the CAA, he ran a program to help Palauans develop fishing and agricultural skills to earn income, and expressed opposition to port development in Koror due to its potential environmental effects.
In elected office
Sugiyama was first elected to public office in 1979, serving thereafter as:- Delegate to the First Palau Constitutional Convention, 1979
- Member of the Seventh Palau Legislature, 1980
- Senator (Koror) in the First Senate of PalauSenate of PalauThe Senate of Palau is the upper house of the Palau National Congress . The Senate has 9 members serving four-year terms in single-seat constituencies. In the elections held on 2 November 2004 only non-partisans were elected. No political parties exist.-Presidents of the Senate:...
- Senator (Fourth Senatorial District) in the Third Senate of Palau, 1989–1992
- Senator (Fourth Senatorial District) in the Fourth Senate of Palau, 1993–1996
- Senator (Second Senatorial District) in the Fifth Senate of Palau, 1996–1999
During his last term, he was elected president of the senate.
2000 presidential campaign
Sugiyama ran for president in the 2000 elections. During his tenure as Senate president, he had been a loyal supporter of outgoing president Kuniwo NakamuraKuniwo Nakamura
Kuniwo Nakamura was the President and foreign minister of Palau from 1993 until 2001.-Background and early life:Nakamura is the son of a Japanese immigrant from Matsusaka, Ise Province and a Palauan chieftain's daughter. He was studying in his second year of primary school when the surrender of...
, and hoped to be next in line after Nakamura stepped down at the end of his second term due to term limit
Term limit
A term limit is a legal restriction that limits the number of terms a person may serve in a particular elected office. When term limits are found in presidential and semi-presidential systems they act as a method to curb the potential for monopoly, where a leader effectively becomes "president for...
s. However, in July 2000, Nakamura announced his support for his vice president Tommy Remengesau
Tommy Remengesau
Thomas Esang Remengesau, Jr. is a Palauan politician who served as president of Palau from 2001 to 2009.He became vice-president in 1992 and was elected as president in 2000; he took office on January 1, 2001. He wished to make Palau less dependent upon United States aid, and to promote limited...
's presidential campaign. With this strong support, Rememgesau thus came in first in the primaries; out of 9,221 votes cast, he took almost 43% (4,000 votes), against just 22% (2,050) for second-place Sugiyama, with the rest distributed among minister of education Billy Kuartei, senator Santos Olikong, and Angaur
Angaur
Angaur or Ngeaur is an island in the island nation of Palau. The island, which forms its own state, has an area of 8 km² . Its population is 188 . State capital is the village of Ngeremasch on the western side...
governor Ben Roberto. The three other losers in the primaries threw their weight behind Sugiyama for the general elections, and he managed to significantly narrow the gap between himself and Remengesau. In the end, out of 10,718 votes (an 81% turnout), Sugiyama lost by a margin of 674 votes.