Takeo Hiranuma

Takeo Hiranuma
平沼 赳夫
Member of the House of Representatives
Personal details
Born 3 August 1939
Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan
Political party Party for Future Generations
Other political
affiliations		 Japan Restoration Party (2012-2014)
Sunrise Party (2010-2012)
Liberal Democratic Party (Japan) (1980-2005)
Spouse(s) Masako Hiranuma
Children Keiichiro
Shoujiro
Hiroko
Alma mater Keio University
Religion Shinto
Website http://www.hiranuma.org/

Takeo Hiranuma (平沼 赳夫 Hiranuma Takeo, born 3 August 1939 in Shibuya, Tokyo) is a Japanese politician and chairperson of the Party for Future Generations.[1]

Basic biography

Takeo Hiranuma was adopted by his maternal great-uncle, the younger brother of his grandfather Kiichirō Hiranuma, with his father and mother (all family together). Kiichirō Hiranuma was Prime Minister of Japan until 30 August 1939, and, had no wife nor biological children.

Hiranuma attended Keio University and worked in the private sector for eleven years until moving to served as an aide for Ichiro Nakagawa and Eisaku Satō. He then ran for a seat in the House of Representatives twice and failed, until he was finally elected in 1980 as a member of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party.

Political career

Hiranuma served as vice minister for the ministry of finance in 1987 and minister of transport in 1995.

Hiranuma was made minister of international trade and industry in July 2000.[2] His portfolio changed when the ministry was renamed as ministry of economy, trade, and industry in January 2001.[2] Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi reappointed him as minister of economy, trade, and industry in April 2001.[2] Hiranuma retained his post in the cabinet reshuffle of September 2002, becoming the longest-serving trade minister of Japan in postwar period.[2] He was fired in August 2005 when Hiranuma refused to support the Prime Minister's plans to privatize Japan Post. He was not endorsed by the Liberal Democratic Party in the 11 September 2005 election, but he was nonetheless reelected.

On 10 April 2010, he and several other politicians established a new political party, the Sunrise Party of Japan.

Controversial statements

On 1 February 2006, he invoked controversy by arguing against the proposed imperial reform bill on the grounds that Princess Aiko could potentially marry and have children with a "blue-eyed foreigner" in the future.[3][4]

During a speech on 17 January 2009 in the city of Okayama, Hiranuma criticized diet member Renhou Murata's support of budget cuts to Japan's supercomputer program by insinuating that she may not have Japan's best interests at heart because she is not a Japanese national by birth.[5]

Hiranuma is affiliated to the openly revisionist organization Nippon Kaigi.[6]

References

  1. ↑ http://jisedai.jp/en-OFFICERLIST.html
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Japan's longest-serving trade minister". Xinhuanet. 30 September 2002. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
  3. ↑ Female on throne could marry foreigner, Hiranuma warns Japan Times 2 February 2006
  4. ↑ Rally against Japan royals change BBC
  5. ↑ Gaffe-prone Hiranuma refers to Renho as 'not originally Japanese' The Japan Times
  6. ↑ "Major conservative nationalist organizations in Japan" (Asia Policy Point - 2007)

External links