Tadahiro Matsushita

In this Japanese name, the family name is "Matsushita".
Tadahiro Matsushita
Member of the House of Representatives of Japan for Kagoshima Prefecture's 3rd district
In office
1993–2005
Member of the House of Representatives of Japan for Kagoshima Prefecture's 3rd district
In office
2009 – present
Personal details
Born February 9, 1939 (1939-02-09) (age 73)
Satsumasendai, Kagoshima, Japan
Political party People's New Party (2007-present)
Liberal Democratic Party (1993-2005)
Alma mater Kyoto University
Website http://matsushita-tadahiro.jp/

Tadahiro Matsushita (松下忠洋 Matsushita Tadahiro?, born February 9, 1939) is a Japanese politician and five-time member of the House of Representatives of Japan. He has been involved in government since 1962 when he joined the Ministry of Construction. He is currently the Senior Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.

He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1993, and was re-elected to four consecutive terms. However, when he failed to support postal privatization, the leaders of his party, the Liberal Democratic Party, refused to support his 2005 campaign. As a result, he dropped out of the race. He returned to run again in 2009, this time as a member of the new People's New Party. He won his election, and is currently one of only three members of his party who hold a seat in the House.

Contents

Early life and education

Matsushita was born on February 9, 1939 in Satsumasendai, Kagoshima. He graduated from the Faculty of Agriculture at Kyoto University in March 1962.[1]

Political career

Matsushita first held a post within the Japanese government in April 1962 when he joined the Ministry of Construction.[2] On June 1970, he seconded with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[2] He officially left the Ministry of Construction in June 1992.[1] In 2001, he was appointed Senior Vice Minister of the Cabinet Office, House Committee on Cabinet in 2004.[3] He is currently the Senior Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.[4]

He was the first representative from the Yukio Hatoyama to visit Indonesia, where he guaranteed aid to the country in the wake of the 2009 Sumatra earthquakes.[5] During the 2010 World Future Energy Summit, Matsushita once again represented the Japanese government internationally.[6]

House of Representatives

Matsushita was first elected to the House of Representatives of Japan in July 1993, and was subsequently elected in October 1996, June 2000, November 2003, and 2009.[2] In the House, he has served on directed numerous committees, including the Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Special Committee on Disasters, Committee on Rules and Administration, and Special Committee on Okinawa and Northern Problems.[1] He was also Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.[1]

Matsushita was a member of the Liberal Democratic Party for four of his five terms. However, during the 2005 elections, he faced opposition from his party after he failed to support postal privatization. He returned to run in 2009, having left his party for the People's New Party. He is a junior member of the party, and one of only four members elected to the House.[7][8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Profile of the Senior Vice Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry". METI Officials List. Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. 2008. http://www.meti.go.jp/english/aboutmeti/profiles/aMatsushita.html. Retrieved 13 August 2010. 
  2. ^ a b c Matsushita, Tadahiro (2010). "プロフィール (Profile)" (in Japanese). Matsushita-Tadahiro. http://matsushita-tadahiro.jp/profile.html. Retrieved 13 August 2010. 
  3. ^ "H.E. Tadahiro Matushita, Senior Vice Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry". World Future Energy Summit. 2010. http://www.worldfutureenergysummit.com/en/speaker-bio.aspx?guid=128. Retrieved 13 August 2010. 
  4. ^ Budianto, Lilian (6 October 2009). "Japan senior minister pays official visit to Jakarta". The Jakarta Post. PT Bina Media Tenggara (Jakarta). http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/10/06/japan-senior-minister-pays-official-visit-jakarta.html. Retrieved 13 August 2010. 
  5. ^ Budianto, Lilian (7 October 2009). "Japan official makes first visit to RI under new govt". The Jakarta Post. PT Bina Media Tenggara (Jakarta). http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/10/07/japan-official-makes-first-visit-ri-under-new-govt.html. Retrieved 13 August 2010. 
  6. ^ "Over 100 countries to attend World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi". Amman, Jordan: Al Bawaba. 24 November 2009. http://www1.albawaba.com/en/news/over-100-countries-attend-world-future-energy-summit-abu-dhabi. Retrieved 13 August 2010. 
  7. ^ "Japan likely to have new finmin -coalition lawmaker". Reuters (London). 6 January 2010. http://in.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=INT20839420100106. Retrieved 13 August 2010. 
  8. ^ "Strength of Political Groups in the House of Representatives". House of Representatives of Japan. 17 June 2010. http://www.shugiin.go.jp/index.nsf/html/index_e_strength.htm. Retrieved 16 August 2010. 
Political offices
Preceded by
Sanae Takaichi
Takamori Yoshikawa		 Senior Vice Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry
2009–present
Served alongside: Teruhiko Mashiko		 Incumbent
Preceded by
Takanori Sakai
Seiji Nakamura
Jin Murai		 Senior Vice Minister, Cabinet Office
2001–2002
Served alongside: Seiji Nakamura, Yoshitaka Murata, Akihiko Kumashiro		 Succeeded by
Tatsuya Itō
Takumi Nemoto
Kenzō Yoneda
House of Representatives of Japan
Preceded by
Kazuaki Miyaji		 Representative for Kagoshima 3rd district
2009–		 Incumbent
Preceded by
N/A		 Representative for the Kyūshū proportional representation block
2000–2005		 Succeeded by
N/A
New district Representative for Kagoshima 3rd district
1996–2000		 Succeeded by
Kazuaki Miyaji
Preceded by
Kiichi Murayama
Sadatoshi Ozato
Shin'ichirō Hirata		 Representative for Kagoshima 2nd district (multi-member)
1993–1996
Served alongside: Sadatoshi Ozato, Ken'ichi Hamada		 District eliminated