Kaoru Yosano

Kaoru Yosano meeting with U.S. Secretary of Treasury Timothy Geithner on April 14, 2011.

Kaoru Yosano (与謝野 馨, Yosano Kaoru, born August 22, 1938) is a Japanese politician. He was a member of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), the Sunrise Party of Japan and former member of the House of Representatives, serving his ninth term in the Lower House representing Tokyo's first electoral district until his defeat in the Japanese general election, 2009. Yosano was Chief Cabinet Secretary to Prime Minister Shinzō Abe from August 2007 to September 2007 and was State Minister in charge of Economic and Fiscal Policy in Taro Aso`s administration from February to September 2009.

Born the grandson of poets Yosano Akiko and Yosano Tekkan in Tokyo, he graduated from the University of Tokyo in 1963. In 1972 he unsuccessfully ran for a seat in House of Representatives. Yosano then served as secretary to Yasuhiro Nakasone. He ran again in 1976 and was elected for the first time. On August 27, 2007, he was appointed Chief Cabinet Secretary to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, replacing Yasuhisa Shiozaki. He was replaced by Nobutaka Machimura on September 27 when Yasuo Fukuda succeeded Abe.^[1]

Yosano was appointed as State Minister in charge of Economic and Fiscal Policy on August 1, 2008.^[2]

Yosano is known for advocating an increase in the consumption tax to reconstruct the nation's debt-ridden fiscal structure. His hobbies include golf, making computers, photography, fishing, and playing Japanese board games.^[1] He is a Roman Catholic.^{[citation needed]}

Following the resignation of Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, Yosano announced his candidacy for the LDP presidency on September 8, 2008: "I believe politicians should never mislead the public by showing some rosy pictures. The LDP is facing the biggest crisis since its creation. I will contest the election with high spirits and the courage to lead Japan. Japan is going through a crisis. I will battle the situation for the benefit of the people."^[3][4]

In the leadership election, held on September 22, 2008, Taro Aso was elected with 351 of the 527 votes, while Yosano trailed in second place with 66 votes.^[5] In Aso's Cabinet, appointed on 24 September 2008, Yosano retained his post as State Minister in charge of Economic and Fiscal Policy.^[6] On February 18, 2009, Yosano was named the new Minister of Finance, following the resignation of Shōichi Nakagawa over an incident at the G7 conference.

On April 4, 2010, Yosano, Takeo Hiranuma, Hiroyuki Sonoda, Takao Fujii and Yoshio Nakagawa announced their plans to leave the LDP to establish a new political party, the Sunrise Party of Japan.^[7]

He left the Sunrise Party of Japan on 13 January 2011^[8] to join the Naoto Kan's cabinet as the minister of economic and fiscal policy.^[9]

After joining the DPJ government Yosano was important in drawing up the plans for the 2012 consumption tax increase. The legislation was passed through the house of representatives on June 26, 2012^[10] and passed the upper house on August 10, 2012.^[11]

It was announced on September 5, 2012 that he would not run for re-election as he was suffering from throat cancer and has difficulty speaking.^[12]

References

External links

• Kaoru Yosano official website
• Works by or about Kaoru Yosano in libraries (WorldCat catalog)