Jirō Kawasaki
Jirō Kawasaki (川崎 二郎, Kawasaki Jirō, born November 15, 1947) is a Japanese politician who served as Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare under Prime Minister Junichirō Koizumi.
Jirō Kawasaki | |
|---|---|
川崎 二郎 | |
 | |
| Minister of Health, Labour, and Welfare | |
| In office 31 October 2005 – 26 September 2006 | |
| Prime Minister | Junichiro Koizumi |
| Preceded by | Hidehisa Otsuji |
| Succeeded by | Hakuo Yanagisawa |
| Director General of the Okinawa Development Agency | |
| In office 14 January 1999 – 5 October 1999 | |
| Prime Minister | Keizō Obuchi |
| Preceded by | Kichio Inoue |
| Succeeded by | Toshihiro Nikai |
| Minister of Transport | |
| In office 30 July 1998 – 5 October 1999 | |
| Prime Minister | Keizō Obuchi |
| Preceded by | Takao Fujii |
| Succeeded by | Toshihiro Nikai |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 15, 1947 Iga, Mie, Japan |
| Political party | Liberal Democratic Party |
| Alma mater | Keio University |
Kawasaki was born in Iga, Mie. His father and grandfather were both politicians.
He attended Keio University and graduated with a degree in Commerce. After several years working at Matsushita, Kawasaki won a seat in the House of Representatives, representing Mie Prefecture in 1980.
Kawasaki is a long-time rival of Hiroshi Nakai of the Democratic Party of Japan, and the two have repeatedly challenged each other for seats representing Mie in the Diet.
He served as Minister of Transportation under Keizō Obuchi, and later as Director of the Hokkaido Development Agency. On October 31, 2005, Junichirō Koizumi chose Kawasaki to head the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.
Quotes
"We must regret having given him (Horie) too much credit." Asahi Shimbun January 25, 2006
“I do not think that Japan should ever become a multi-ethnic society.” The New York Times, April 22, 2009.[1]
References
- Tabuchi, Hiroko (22 April 2009). "Japan Pays Foreign Workers to Go Home". The New York Times.