Yasuo Tanaka
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese novelist and politician. He served as the governor of Nagano prefecture
from 2000 to 2006, became president of New Party Nippon
and has been elected to Japan
's legislatures.
in Tokyo, and moved to Nagano at age 8 when his father became a professor at Shinshu University. He initially failed the university entrance exams in 1975 and spent the next year studying in Tokyo to retake them. In 1976 he entered the Faculty of Law at Hitotsubashi University
. He received the Bungei Prize
in 1980 for his first novel, Nantonaku, Crystal Feeling while still a student. He graduated in the same year and briefly worked for the Mobil
Oil Corporation for three months before leaving to continue his career as a writer. Tanaka married after graduating from university but divorced 11 months later.
, a rural prefecture in Japan, standing as an independent without the support of any major Japanese political party. Soon after, Tanaka became a focus of public attention in Japan for policies that represented a radical departure from the priorities of the Japan's bureaucratic establishment. These included his policy of halting dam building, campaigning for environmental issues and abolishing the Nagano Press Club.
These policies were designed to address ruinous public development projects that had left Nagano and many other prefectures burdened by debts. Japan is one of the most heavily dammed countries in the world with more than 3,000 dams and virtually no un-obstructed rivers.
These problems had long been recognized by citizens, but had been suppressed by the national media through the system which promotes a cosy relationship between journalists and the political and bureaucratic establishment.
Tanaka was one of the first prefectural governors to speak out against these issues and also filled a political vacuum caused by the paralysis of political leaders in Tokyo. His outspoken pronouncements have often been targeted and criticized by the media and other politicians, but his policies helped slash the debt burden faced by Nagano Prefecture.
In 2002, conservative assemblymen who were upset by Tanaka's challenge to decades of pork-barrel politics forced him from office by passing a vote of no-confidence. But in the ensuing election, Tanaka made a successful comeback, thanks to overwhelming popular vote.
In August 2005, Tanaka formed the New Party Nippon
with a handful of other reform-minded members of the House of Representatives. He has said that the purpose of this political party is to push for reform.
He lost his governor's post in the August 2006 election to Liberal Democratic Party
opponent Jin Murai
. He regained political office in the 29 July 2007 elections by winning a seat in the Japanese House of Councillors
, the only member of the New Party Nippon
to hold a seat in either legislature. He currently serves in the House of Representatives of Japan
in the People's New Party
.
Nagano Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of the island of Honshū. The capital is the city of Nagano.- History :Nagano was formerly known as the province of Shinano...
from 2000 to 2006, became president of New Party Nippon
New Party Nippon
The New Party Nippon is a Japanese political party formed on August 21, 2005. The party is headed by the former Nagano governor Yasuo Tanaka, and includes Diet members Kōki Kobayashi , Takashi Aoyama, Makoto Taki, and Hiroyuki Arai, who left the Liberal Democratic Party in opposition to Prime...
and has been elected to Japan
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...
's legislatures.
Early life
Tanaka was born in Musashino CityMusashino, Tokyo
is a city located in Tokyo, Japan.As of October 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 137,222 and a population density of 12,788.63 persons per km². The total area is 10.73 km².The city was founded on November 3, 1947...
in Tokyo, and moved to Nagano at age 8 when his father became a professor at Shinshu University. He initially failed the university entrance exams in 1975 and spent the next year studying in Tokyo to retake them. In 1976 he entered the Faculty of Law at Hitotsubashi University
Hitotsubashi University
is a national university specialised in the social sciences in Tokyo, Japan. The University has campuses in Kunitachi, Kodaira, and Kanda.Hitotsubashi is considered as one of the most prestigious universities in Japan. It is ranked 25th in the world in 2011 by École des Mines de Paris.Hitotsubashi...
. He received the Bungei Prize
Bungei Prize
The is a Japanese literary award given by publishing company Kawade Shobō Shinsha. It was first awarded in 1962.-See also:* List of Japanese literary awards- External links :*...
in 1980 for his first novel, Nantonaku, Crystal Feeling while still a student. He graduated in the same year and briefly worked for the Mobil
Mobil
Mobil, previously known as the Socony-Vacuum Oil Company, was a major American oil company which merged with Exxon in 1999 to form ExxonMobil. Today Mobil continues as a major brand name within the combined company, as well as still being a gas station sometimes paired with their own store or On...
Oil Corporation for three months before leaving to continue his career as a writer. Tanaka married after graduating from university but divorced 11 months later.
Political career
In 2000, Tanaka was elected governor of Nagano PrefectureNagano Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of the island of Honshū. The capital is the city of Nagano.- History :Nagano was formerly known as the province of Shinano...
, a rural prefecture in Japan, standing as an independent without the support of any major Japanese political party. Soon after, Tanaka became a focus of public attention in Japan for policies that represented a radical departure from the priorities of the Japan's bureaucratic establishment. These included his policy of halting dam building, campaigning for environmental issues and abolishing the Nagano Press Club.
These policies were designed to address ruinous public development projects that had left Nagano and many other prefectures burdened by debts. Japan is one of the most heavily dammed countries in the world with more than 3,000 dams and virtually no un-obstructed rivers.
These problems had long been recognized by citizens, but had been suppressed by the national media through the system which promotes a cosy relationship between journalists and the political and bureaucratic establishment.
Tanaka was one of the first prefectural governors to speak out against these issues and also filled a political vacuum caused by the paralysis of political leaders in Tokyo. His outspoken pronouncements have often been targeted and criticized by the media and other politicians, but his policies helped slash the debt burden faced by Nagano Prefecture.
In 2002, conservative assemblymen who were upset by Tanaka's challenge to decades of pork-barrel politics forced him from office by passing a vote of no-confidence. But in the ensuing election, Tanaka made a successful comeback, thanks to overwhelming popular vote.
In August 2005, Tanaka formed the New Party Nippon
New Party Nippon
The New Party Nippon is a Japanese political party formed on August 21, 2005. The party is headed by the former Nagano governor Yasuo Tanaka, and includes Diet members Kōki Kobayashi , Takashi Aoyama, Makoto Taki, and Hiroyuki Arai, who left the Liberal Democratic Party in opposition to Prime...
with a handful of other reform-minded members of the House of Representatives. He has said that the purpose of this political party is to push for reform.
He lost his governor's post in the August 2006 election to 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...
opponent Jin Murai
Jin Murai
is the governor of Nagano Prefecture in Japan. After growing up in Matsumoto, Nagano, he graduated from the University of Tokyo in 1959 and entered the Ministry of International Trade and Industry upon graduation. In 1986 he was elected to the House of Representatives in the Diet for the first time...
. He regained political office in the 29 July 2007 elections by winning a seat in the Japanese House of Councillors
House of Councillors
The is the upper house of the Diet of Japan. The House of Representatives is the lower house. The House of Councillors is the successor to the pre-war House of Peers. If the two houses disagree on matters of the budget, treaties, or designation of the prime minister, the House of Representatives...
, the only member of the New Party Nippon
New Party Nippon
The New Party Nippon is a Japanese political party formed on August 21, 2005. The party is headed by the former Nagano governor Yasuo Tanaka, and includes Diet members Kōki Kobayashi , Takashi Aoyama, Makoto Taki, and Hiroyuki Arai, who left the Liberal Democratic Party in opposition to Prime...
to hold a seat in either legislature. He currently serves in the House of Representatives of Japan
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,...
in the People's New Party
People's New Party
The People's New Party is a centre-right, Conservative, Japanese political party formed on 17 August 2005 in the aftermath of the defeat of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's Japan Post privatisation bills which led to a snap election.-History:The Kokumin Shinto, headed by Shizuka Kamei, includes...
.