Yasuo Tanaka

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For the astrophysicist, see Yasuo Tanaka (astronomer)

Yasuo Tanaka (田中康夫, Tanaka Yasuo^?, born April 12, 1956) is a Japanese novelist who became governor of Nagano prefecture, Japan in 2000.

1 Early life
2 Career
3 Political career
4 External links

[edit] Early life

He was born in Musashino City 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. He spent the next year studying in Tokyo in order to retake those exams, and the following year entered the Faculty of Law at Hitotsubashi University. He graduated in 1980 and briefly worked for the Mobil Oil Corporation.

[edit] Career

He married after graduating university but divorced shortly thereafter.

After leaving Mobil, he pursued his career as a writer, which he had begun somewhat successfully in university.

[edit] Political career

In 2000, he was elected governor of Nagano, a rural prefecture in Japan, without the support of any major Japanese political party.

After he was elected as a mayor of Nagano prefecture, he often appeared in news programs to promote Nagano prefecture, such as their special products and tourist attractions.

He became a focus of public attention by his declarations, such as "The Declarations of No More Dams" and "The Declarations of Departure from the Press Club System". These declarations concerned how he would cope with the problems that have been the cause of creating huge expenses and debts every year in the many local governments in Japan. These problems had long been recognized by citizens, but had previously almost never been uttered openly by any other mayors.

His outspoken pronouncements have often been targeted and criticized by the media and other politicians, but the debts of the Nagano Prefecture decreased dramatically and continuously after his installation.

In August 2005, he formed the New Japan Party with a few other members of the House of Representatives. He has said that the purpose of this political party is to push for reform, but he has opposed Prime Minister Koizumi's plans without articulating any alternatives. In an August 2006 election, he was defeated by opponent Jin Murai.