Kuniwo Nakamura

Kuniwo Nakamura (中村國雄, Nakamura Kunio, 24 November 1943 – 14 October 2020)[2] was a Palauan politician who served as the President of Palau from 1993 to 2001. He had earlier served as Vice President of Palau from 1989 to 1993, under Ngiratkel Etpison.

His Excellency
Kuniwo Nakamura
中村國雄 / 中村邦夫
Nakamura in 2007
6th President of Palau
In office
1 January 1993 – 1 January 2001
Vice PresidentTommy Remengesau
Preceded byNgiratkel Etpison
Succeeded byTommy Remengesau
3rd Vice President of Palau
In office
1 January 1989 – 1 January 1993
PresidentNgiratkel Etpison
Preceded byThomas Remengesau Sr.
Succeeded byTommy Remengesau
Justice Minister of Palau
In office
1992 – 1 January 1993
PresidentNgiratkel Etpison
Preceded byVacant, held by Ngiratkel Etpison
Succeeded bySalvador Ingereklii
Minister of Administration of Palau
In office
January 1989 – 1992
PresidentNgiratkel Etpison
Preceded byFranz Reksid
Succeeded bySandra Pierantozzi
Personal details
Born(1943-11-24)24 November 1943
Peleliu, South Seas Mandate
Died14 October 2020(2020-10-14) (aged 76)[1]
Koror, Palau
SpouseElong Nakamura

Background and early life

Nakamura was the son of a Japanese immigrant from Matsusaka, Ise Province and a Palauan chieftain's daughter. He was studying in his second year of primary school when the surrender of Japan ended World War II. He graduated from high school under the U.S. occupation of Palau and went on to study at the University of Hawaii.[3]

Spouse

Elong Nakamura (born 2 May 1944 — 17 November 2018 in Palau) is the wife of President Kuniwo Nakamura. She died in Palau on 17 November 2018 at the age of 74.

Elong Nakamura
Born(1944-05-02)May 2, 1944
Palau
DiedNovember 17, 2018(2018-11-17) (aged 74)
Palau
SpouseKuniwo Nakamura

Career

Nakamura began his political career at the age of 28, becoming the youngest person to be elected to the Congress of Micronesia.[4] He was elected to the Senate of Palau in 1980. He served as Vice-President from January 1989 to January 1993.[5] He held the additional role of Minister of Administration from 1989 to 1992, when President Ngiratkel Etpison appointed other members of the cabinet. At that time Nakamura was appointed to the additional role of Minister of Justice.

Nakamura was first elected president in the 1992 elections; he attracted 3,125 votes, versus 2,084 for one-term incumbent Ngiratkel Etpison and 3,188 for rival Johnson Toribiong, and then went on to defeat Toribiong in the runoff.[6] He served two terms, being re-elected in 1996 by a 64%-36% margin over Ibedul Yutaka Gibbons.[7] He did not run in the 2000 elections, but backed his vice-president Tommy Remengesau, who emerged victorious by a 53%-47% margin against senator Peter Sugiyama.[4]

References
  1. "Former president of Palau, Kuniwo Nakamura, dies". Pasific Daily News. 14 October 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  2. Profile of Kuniwo Nakamura
  3. Utagawa, Reizo (1999), "Republic of Palau Travelogue: My Way in 'Wonder Islands', No Longer the South Sea Islands" (PDF), Wave of Pacifika, 6: 5–7, retrieved 2010-11-22
  4. "Remengesau clear winner in Palau presidential race", Kyodo News, 2000-11-09, retrieved 2010-11-22
  5. Past Vice Presidents Archived 2008-12-02 at the Wayback Machine Republic of Palau
  6. Hassall, Graham; Saunders, Cheryl (2002), Asia-Pacific constitutional systems, Cambridge University Press, p. 93, ISBN 978-0-521-59129-4
  7. Nohlen, D, Grotz, F & Hartmann, C (2001) Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume II, p757 ISBN 0-19-924959-8
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