Fumio Kyuma

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Fumio Kyuma
Fumio Kyuma
Defense Minister
In office
September 9, 2006 – July 3, 2007
Preceded by Fukushiro Nukaga
Succeeded by Yuriko Koike
Constituency Nagasaki Prefecture 2nd District
Born December 4, 1940 (1940-12-04) (age 67)
Minamishimabara, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan
Political party Liberal Democratic Party

Fumio Kyuma (久間章生 Kyūma Fumio?) (born December 4, 1940) is a Japanese politician who has served in the Diet of Japan since 1980.[1] Kyuma graduated from the University of Tokyo in 1964 and worked for the Ministry of Agriculture.[2] He was elected to the Nagasaki Prefectural Assembly in 1971 serving three terms before being elected to the Diet as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) for Nagasaki Number 2.

Contents

[edit] Defense Minister

Kyuma served as the Minister for Defense between 1996 and 1998 under Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto. He served in a variety of LDP posts in Junichiro Koizumi's cabinet.[3] He again became responsible for defense in September 2006.[4]

[edit] Controversial remarks

In September 2006, shortly after he was appointed Defense Minister, Kyuma stated that the Chinese military was a concern, contradicting earlier comments that he had made referring to China's military as a threat.[5]

In December 2006, Kyuma claimed that although former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi supported the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, the invasion did not have the official support of the Japanese government. He later had to withdraw his remarks, admitting that the Japanese "Cabinet officially adopted a unified view supporting the U.S.-led war."[6] On January 24, 2007 he said that the U.S. decision to invade Iraq was a mistake.[7]

In January 2007 he criticized the United States over not getting the approval of Okinawa's governor during efforts to relocate the Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. The base and its relocation has been a source of friction between the residents of Okinawa and the U.S. government.[8]

[edit] Resignation

He resigned as Defense Minister on July 3, 2007 for remarks made at Reitaku University in Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture on June 30. Kyuma said "I now have come to accept in my mind that in order to end the war, it could not be helped that an atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki and that countless numbers of people suffered great tragedy." After appearing on a Fuji TV morning news show on July 1, saying he did not think an apology would be necessary, he apologized later the same day. When this would not calm the critics, Kyuma finally submitted his resignation on July 3.[9] Asked about the reason for his resignation, Kyuma is quoted as saying that he did not want his comments to become a "minus" for the Prime Minister.[10] Yuriko Koike was appointed his successor the same day.[11]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Kantei "Fumio Kyuma"
  2. ^ Japan Times "Cabinet Profile"
  3. ^ Japan Times "Cabinet Profile"
  4. ^ Kantei "Fumio Kyumi"
  5. ^ http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2006-09/30/content_700049.htm "Japan defense chief: China not threat"
  6. ^ "Kyuma admits Tokyo backed Iraq attack"
  7. ^ "Kyuma: U.S. invasion of Iraq a mistake"
  8. ^ "Japan moves to defuse diplomatic spat with US"
  9. ^ Japan News Review "Kyuma steps down over A-bomb gaffe" 3 July 2007
  10. ^ Japan News Review "Kyuma's excuse: 'It can’t be helped' is often said in Kyushu dialect" 3 July 2007
  11. ^ Japan News Review "Yuriko Koike appointed new Defense Minister"