Tadahiro Matsushita
Encyclopedia
is a Japan
ese politician and five-time member of the House of Representatives of Japan
. He has been involved in government since 1962 when he joined the Ministry of Construction. He is currently the Senior Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.
He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1993, and was re-elected to four consecutive terms. However, when he failed to support postal privatization
, the leaders of his party, the Liberal Democratic Party
, refused to support his 2005 campaign. As a result, he dropped out of the race. He returned to run again in 2009, this time as a member of the new People's New Party
. He won his election, and is currently one of only three members of his party who hold a seat in the House.
. He graduated from the Faculty of Agriculture at Kyoto University
in March 1962.
. He officially left the Ministry of Construction in June 1992. In 2001, he was appointed Senior Vice Minister of the Cabinet Office
, House Committee on Cabinet in 2004. He is currently the Senior Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.
He was the first representative from the Yukio Hatoyama
to visit Indonesia
, where he guaranteed aid to the country in the wake of the 2009 Sumatra earthquakes
. During the 2010 World Future Energy Summit
, Matsushita once again represented the Japanese government internationally.
in July 1993, and was subsequently elected in October 1996, June 2000, November 2003, and 2009
. In the House, he has served on directed numerous committees, including the Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Special Committee on Disasters, Committee on Rules and Administration, and Special Committee on Okinawa and Northern Problems. He was also Parliamentary Secretary
of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
.
Matsushita was a member of the Liberal Democratic Party
for four of his five terms. However, during the 2005 elections, he faced opposition from his party after he failed to support postal privatization
. He returned to run in 2009, having left his party for the People's New Party
. He is a junior member of the party, and one of only four members elected to the House.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese politician and five-time member of the House of Representatives of Japan
House of Representatives of Japan
The is the lower house of the Diet of Japan. The House of Councillors of Japan is the upper house.The House of Representatives has 480 members, elected for a four-year term. Of these, 180 members are elected from 11 multi-member constituencies by a party-list system of proportional representation,...
. He has been involved in government since 1962 when he joined the Ministry of Construction. He is currently the Senior Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.
He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1993, and was re-elected to four consecutive terms. However, when he failed to support postal privatization
Japan Post
was a government-owned corporation in Japan, that existed from 2003–2007, offering postal and package delivery services, banking services, and life insurance. It had over 400,000 employees and ran 24,700 post offices throughout Japan and was the nation's largest employer. One third of all Japanese...
, the leaders of his party, the Liberal Democratic Party
Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)
The , frequently abbreviated to LDP or , is a centre-right political party in Japan. It is one of the most consistently successful political parties in the democratic world. The LDP ruled almost continuously for nearly 54 years from its founding in 1955 until its defeat in the 2009 election...
, refused to support his 2005 campaign. As a result, he dropped out of the race. He returned to run again in 2009, this time as a member of the new People's New Party
People's New Party
The People's New Party is a centre-right, Conservative, Japanese political party formed on 17 August 2005 in the aftermath of the defeat of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's Japan Post privatisation bills which led to a snap election.-History:The Kokumin Shinto, headed by Shizuka Kamei, includes...
. He won his election, and is currently one of only three members of his party who hold a seat in the House.
Early life and education
Matsushita was born on February 9, 1939 in Satsumasendai, KagoshimaSatsumasendai, Kagoshima
is a city located in Kagoshima, Japan. It was established on October 12, 2004 with the merger of the city of Sendai, Kagoshima, the towns of Hiwaki, Iriki, Kedōin and Tōgō, and Koshikijima Islands , all from Satsuma District.As of January 1, 2008, the city had an estimated population of 100,730 in...
. He graduated from the Faculty of Agriculture at Kyoto University
Kyoto University
, or is a national university located in Kyoto, Japan. It is the second oldest Japanese university, and formerly one of Japan's Imperial Universities.- History :...
in March 1962.
Political career
Matsushita first held a post within the Japanese government in April 1962 when he joined the Ministry of Construction. On June 1970, he seconded with the Ministry of Foreign AffairsMinistry of Foreign Affairs (Japan)
The is a cabinet level ministry of Japan responsible for the country's foreign relations.The ministry is due to the second term of the third article of the National Government Organization Act , and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Establishment Act establishes the ministry...
. He officially left the Ministry of Construction in June 1992. In 2001, he was appointed Senior Vice Minister of the Cabinet Office
Cabinet Office (Japan)
is an agency in the Cabinet of Japan. It is responsible for handling the day to day affairs of the cabinet. The Cabinet Office is formally headed by the Prime Minister. There are usually three Vice Ministers and three Parliamentary Secretaries in the Cabinet Office.-Organization:-External...
, House Committee on Cabinet in 2004. He is currently the Senior Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.
He was the first representative from the Yukio Hatoyama
Yukio Hatoyama
is a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan between 16 September 2009 and 2 June 2010, and was the first ever Prime Minister from the modern Democratic Party of Japan....
to visit Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, where he guaranteed aid to the country in the wake of the 2009 Sumatra earthquakes
2009 Sumatra earthquakes
The September 2009 Sumatra earthquake occurred just off the southern coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. The major shock hit at 17:16:10 local time on and had a moment magnitude of 7.6. The epicenter was west-northwest of Padang, Sumatra, and southwest of Pekanbaru, Sumatra. Early death-toll estimates...
. During the 2010 World Future Energy Summit
World Future Energy Summit
The World Future Energy Summit is the world’s foremost annual event, dedicated to advancing future energy, energy efficiency and clean technologies...
, Matsushita once again represented the Japanese government internationally.
House of Representatives
Matsushita was first elected to the House of Representatives of JapanHouse of Representatives of Japan
The is the lower house of the Diet of Japan. The House of Councillors of Japan is the upper house.The House of Representatives has 480 members, elected for a four-year term. Of these, 180 members are elected from 11 multi-member constituencies by a party-list system of proportional representation,...
in July 1993, and was subsequently elected in October 1996, June 2000, November 2003, and 2009
Japanese general election, 2009
A general election in Japan was held on August 30, 2009, for all 480 seats of the House of Representatives of Japan, the lower house of the Diet of Japan....
. In the House, he has served on directed numerous committees, including the Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Special Committee on Disasters, Committee on Rules and Administration, and Special Committee on Okinawa and Northern Problems. He was also Parliamentary Secretary
Parliamentary Secretary
A Parliamentary Secretary is a member of a Parliament in the Westminster system who assists a more senior minister with his or her duties.In the parliamentary systems of several Commonwealth countries, such as the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, it is customary for the prime minister to...
of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Japan)
The ' a cabinet ministry in the government of Japan responsible for oversight of the agriculture, forestry and fishing industries. Its acronym is MAFF.-History:...
.
Matsushita was a member of the Liberal Democratic Party
Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)
The , frequently abbreviated to LDP or , is a centre-right political party in Japan. It is one of the most consistently successful political parties in the democratic world. The LDP ruled almost continuously for nearly 54 years from its founding in 1955 until its defeat in the 2009 election...
for four of his five terms. However, during the 2005 elections, he faced opposition from his party after he failed to support postal privatization
Japan Post
was a government-owned corporation in Japan, that existed from 2003–2007, offering postal and package delivery services, banking services, and life insurance. It had over 400,000 employees and ran 24,700 post offices throughout Japan and was the nation's largest employer. One third of all Japanese...
. He returned to run in 2009, having left his party for the People's New Party
People's New Party
The People's New Party is a centre-right, Conservative, Japanese political party formed on 17 August 2005 in the aftermath of the defeat of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's Japan Post privatisation bills which led to a snap election.-History:The Kokumin Shinto, headed by Shizuka Kamei, includes...
. He is a junior member of the party, and one of only four members elected to the House.