Yoshimi Watanabe
| Yoshimi Watanabe | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | March 17, 1952 |
| Nationality | Japanese |
Yoshimi Watanabe (渡辺 喜美 Watanabe Yoshimi, born 17 March 1952) is a Japanese politician, formerly of the Liberal Democratic Party and currently of the President of Your Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature).
Early life
Watanabe is a native of Nasu District, Tochigi and graduated from Waseda University and Chuo University. His father was Michio Watanabe, a major political figure first elected to the Diet while Watanabe was in junior high school. Watanabe developed an interest in politics soon after his father was elected to office, and served as his father's secretary during the elder Watanabe's appointments as Minister of International Trade and Industry and Minister of Foreign Affairs.[1]
Political career
Following his father's death in 1995, Watanabe was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in the 1996 general election, representing the Tochigi 3rd district, a newly-created seat in his father's previous constituency in Tochigi Prefecture.[1] Watanabe continues to represent the district today and is the only person to have held the seat, having successfully defended it in five subsequent general elections.
He was tapped by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to lead an administrative reform commission studying the potential for implementing the dōshūsei federal government system in Japan, and served in this capacity from 2006 to 2007.[2] From October 2007 to August 2008, he served as Minister of State for Financial Policy and Administrative Reform in Yasuo Fukuda's cabinet. In April 2008, he urged the U.S. government to use public funds to solve the deepening subprime mortgage crisis, stating that "if there is a big hole in the bottom of the tub, no matter how much hot water you keep adding, you will never have enough hot water."[3]
He supported Yuriko Koike in the 2008 LDP leadership election, which was ultimately won by Taro Aso.[4]
Your Party
Watanabe formed Your Party as a splinter from the Liberal Democratic Party prior to the 2009 general election. His party ran on a platform of downsizing Japan's vast bureaucracy, but managed to win only five seats in the election, which was a resounding victory for the opposition Democratic Party of Japan. The party pushed forward into 2010 with a platform of deregulation and halving the corporate tax rate.[5] His new party became popular among private investors and upper middle-class professionals.[6]
Your Party won ten seats in the House of Councillors in the 2010 election, the third-strongest showing behind the LDP and DPJ. Watanabe planned to use his party's popularity to push for fiscal reforms, stating: "Our priority is anti-deflation legislation because Japan's economy faces the risk of a double-dip recession. We want to revise the BOJ law so the central bank and the government can agree on a goal of 2 percent inflation within two to three years."[7] Watanabe was chosen as the Japanese public's most preferred candidate for prime minister in a July 2010 poll.[8]
In January 2012, Watanabe announced that Your Party would join forces with Osaka governor Toru Hashimoto's political group Osaka Ishin-no-kai, and praised Hashimoto's economic reform efforts in Osaka.[9] He announced that Your Party would sever ties with Hashimoto's Japan Restoration Party in May 2013 after Hashimoto made controversial comments regarding comfort women being a necessary part of World War II and suggesting that American servicemen use the Japanese sex industry to keep their urges under control.[10]
Watanabe opposed the appointment of Haruhiko Kuroda as president of the Bank of Japan, saying that he would prefer to see a president come from a background other than the Ministry of Finance; he instead supported Heizo Takenaka for the position.[11]
He appears in "Takeshi-no-TV-tackle", a humorous political discussion show hosted by comedian Takeshi Kitano.
Personal life
Watanabe is married with three children.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "プロフィール". Yoshimi Watanabe official site. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ↑ Tadashi, Hitora (27 December 2012). "The Changing Face of Decentralization Moves". Nippon.com. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ↑ "Japan Official Urges U.S. Subprime Bailout". AP. 23 April 2008. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ↑ Kageyama, Yuri (21 September 2008). "Japan premier race gets first female candidate". AP. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ↑ Brickley, Adam (8 July 2010). "Japanese Tea? Free market crusader Watanabe poised for big gains in Japanese elections". The Weekly Standard. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ↑ Amano, Tomomichi (3 June 2010). "After Hatoyama, It’s Their Party?". Wall Street Journal Japan Real Time. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ↑ Sakamaki, Sachiko (14 July 2010). "Watanabe's Your Party to Push Inflation Target, Bank of Japan Policy Steps". Bloomberg. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ↑ Jackson, Paul (27 July 2010). "Bureaucratic Fascism? Japan’s preferred choice for PM says the country could slip back into ‘bureaucratic fascism.’". The Diplomat. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ↑ "Your Party throws in with Osaka Mayor Hashimoto". The Asahi Shimbun. 29 January 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ↑ "Survey: Public support for Hashimoto's party drops after remarks". The Asahi Shimbun. 20 May 2013. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ↑ Anstey, Christopher (2 February 2013). "Abe Shortens List for BOJ Chief as Japan Faces Monetary Overhaul". Bloomberg. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
External links
- Yoshimi Watanabe official website (Japanese)
| House of Representatives of Japan | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Seat created |
Representative for Tochigi's 3rd District 1996 – present |
Incumbent |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Yuji Yamamoto Financial Services Genichiro Sata Administrative Reform |
Minister of State for Financial Services and Administrative Reform of Japan 2007–2008 |
Succeeded by Toshimitsu Motegi |
| Preceded by Kōki Chūma |
Minister of State for Regulatory Reform of Japan 2006–2007 |
Succeeded by Fumio Kishida |