Masahiko Kōmura
Masahiko Kōmura | |
|---|---|
高村 正彦 | |
 | |
| Minister for Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 26 September 2007 – 24 September 2008 | |
| Prime Minister | Yasuo Fukuda |
| Preceded by | Nobutaka Machimura |
| Succeeded by | Hirofumi Nakasone |
| In office 30 July 1998 – 5 October 1999 | |
| Prime Minister | Keizō Obuchi |
| Preceded by | Keizō Obuchi |
| Succeeded by | Yōhei Kōno |
| Director-General of the Economic Planning Agency | |
| In office 30 June 1994 – 8 August 1995 | |
| Prime Minister | Tomiichi Murayama |
| Preceded by | Yoshio Terazawa |
| Succeeded by | Isamu Miyazaki |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 March 1942 Shūnan, Yamaguchi, Japan |
| Political party | Liberal Democratic Party |
| Alma mater | Chuo University |
Masahiko Kōmura (高村 正彦, Kōmura Masahiko, born 15 March 1942) is a Japanese politician, and the current Vice-President of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). He was Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1998 to 1999 and again from 2007 to 2008, and he is a member of the House of Representatives for Yamaguchi 1st district.
Early life and education
Kōmura was born in Ehime Prefecture on 15 March 1942.[1] He graduated from Chuo University's faculty of law.[2]
Career
After graduation, Kōmura passed Japan's bar exam and then immediately entered politics. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in the June 1980 election, and has been re-elected in each election since then. He became Director-General of the Economic Planning Agency (as a Minister of State) in June 1994, Minister for Foreign Affairs in July 1998, and Minister of Justice in December 2000. In August 2007, under Prime Minister Shinzō Abe, he became Minister of Defense.[3] Kōmura leads a small faction of the LDP named after himself and ran for LDP president in 2003, but was defeated by Junichirō Koizumi.[4]
Following Abe's resignation in September 2007, Kōmura became Minister for Foreign Affairs for a second time on 26 September 2007, in the Cabinet of Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda.[5] He remained in that post until he was replaced by Hirofumi Nakasone in the Cabinet of Tarō Asō, appointed on 24 September 2008.[6] He is vice president of the LDP.[7]
Kōmura is also the President of the Japan-China Friendship Parliamentarians' Union. He is known to have strong ties within China's political circles.[4]
References
- ^ "LDP members". LDP. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
- ^ "Profiles for Key LDP Officials". LDP. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
- ^ "Profile of Minister for Foreign Affairs Masahiko KOUMURA", Foreign Ministry website.
- ^ a b Japan Times, "Fukuda's new linuep", 3 August 2008, P. 3.
- ^ "Fukuda Cabinet launched / Changes minimized to reduce impact on Diet business", The Yomiuri Shimbun, 26 September 2007.
- ^ "Aso elected premier / Announces Cabinet lineup himself; poll likely on Nov. 2", The Yomiuri Shimbun, 25 September 2005.
- ^ "LDP Vice Pres. Komura to retain post". House of Japan. 20 December 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Academics | |
- Use dmy dates from January 2013
- 1942 births
- Living people
- University of Tokyo alumni
- Politicians from Ehime Prefecture
- Politicians from Yamaguchi Prefecture
- Japanese lawyers
- Members of the House of Representatives (Japan)
- Japanese defense ministers
- Foreign ministers of Japan
- Ministers of Justice of Japan
- Economic planning ministers of Japan
- Liberal Democratic Party (Japan) politicians