Ryōichi Kuroda
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese
jurist
and politician
from Suita, Osaka
.
to be an instructor at a service academy. He spent five years in a Siberian labor camp
before he returned to Japan in 1950, and became a professor of law at Osaka City University
in 1956.
of Osaka Prefecture
in 1971, supported by the Japan Socialist Party and the Japanese Communist Party
. In 1975, he became the first Japanese governor who won reelection with backing only from the Japanese Communist Party. He unsuccessfully ran for a third term in 1979.
While he was in office, Kuroda took positive antipollution measures and introduced free medical care for the elderly. He rejected a plan to build a missile base in Osaka, for he held a view that the Self-Defense Forces were unconstitutional
.
He died of pneumonia
at age 92.
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
jurist
Jurist
A jurist or jurisconsult is a professional who studies, develops, applies, or otherwise deals with the law. The term is widely used in American English, but in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries it has only historical and specialist usage...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from Suita, Osaka
Suita, Osaka
is a city located in northern Osaka, Japan. As of August 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 356,751 and the density of 9,880 persons per km². The total area is 36.11 km²....
.
Early life and academic career
After graduating from Tohoku Imperial University in 1933, Kuroda was sent to ManchukuoManchukuo
Manchukuo or Manshū-koku was a puppet state in Manchuria and eastern Inner Mongolia, governed under a form of constitutional monarchy. The region was the historical homeland of the Manchus, who founded the Qing Empire in China...
to be an instructor at a service academy. He spent five years in a Siberian labor camp
Japanese prisoners of war in the Soviet Union
By the end of :World War II there were from 560,000 to 760,000 Japanese POWs in the Soviet Union and Mongolia interned to work in labor camps. Of them, about 10% died , mostly during the winter of 1945–1946....
before he returned to Japan in 1950, and became a professor of law at Osaka City University
Osaka City University
, abbreviated to , is a public university in Japan. It is located in Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka City.- History :OCU's predecessor was founded in 1880, as the Osaka Commercial Training Institute with donations by local merchants. It developed into Osaka Commercial School in 1885, then was municipalized in...
in 1956.
Political career
Kuroda was elected as governorGovernor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of Osaka Prefecture
Osaka Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the Kansai region on Honshū, the main island of Japan. The capital is the city of Osaka. It is the center of Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto area.- History :...
in 1971, supported by the Japan Socialist Party and the Japanese Communist Party
Japanese Communist Party
The Japanese Communist Party is a left-wing political party in Japan.The JCP advocates the establishment of a society based on socialism, democracy and peace, and opposition to militarism...
. In 1975, he became the first Japanese governor who won reelection with backing only from the Japanese Communist Party. He unsuccessfully ran for a third term in 1979.
While he was in office, Kuroda took positive antipollution measures and introduced free medical care for the elderly. He rejected a plan to build a missile base in Osaka, for he held a view that the Self-Defense Forces were unconstitutional
Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution
Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution is a clause in the National Constitution of Japan that prohibits an act of war by the state. The Constitution came into effect on May 3, 1947, immediately following World War II. In its text, the state formally renounces war as a sovereign right and bans...
.
Later life
After he left from politics, Kuroda practiced at the bar. He became a member of Japan Lawyers Association for Freedom in 1981.He died of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
at age 92.