Former Japanese prime minister leads tributes after finance minister's death

Sunday, October 4, 2009
by Xian Wan and Biodun Iginla, BBC News. Xian Wan reported from Tokyo

1 hour, 4 minutes ago

TOKYO -- Former Prime Minister Taro Aso and other political allies offered their condolences to the family of former Finance Minister Shoichi NakagawaMinister Shoichi Nakagawa, who was found dead at his home in Tokyo on Sunday.

"He was an important talent who was supposed to lead the next generation to reconstruct the Liberal Democratic Party. As finance minister and state minister in charge of financial services in my administration, he showed his outstanding ability in response to the global financial crisis," Aso said in a statement. "I am shocked beyond words, and I offer my deepest condolences."

Former LDP Secretary General Bunmei Ibuki, chairman of an LDP faction to which 56-year-old Nakagawa belonged, also was saddened by his death.

"Mr. Nakagawa was a politician destined to play an active role in politics in the future, considering his age. It (his death) is also a loss for the nation," Ibuki said in a statement. "I pray for the repose of his soul."

New Party Daichi chief Muneo Suzuki, who was a secretary for Nakagawa's father, former Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Ichiro Nakagawa, wept as he spoke to reporters at the party's office in Sapporo.

"He died in his 50s, just like his father. I asked myself how this kind of tragedy could happen. There aren't any words to express (my feelings)," he said. "Shoichi-san was trying to go beyond his father as a politician. I was glad things were going well for him after the administration of (former Prime Minister Junichiro) Koizumi. If I'd known I'd have to part with him this way...I had many things to talk about with him. It's such a pity."

After Nakagawa lost his seat in the Aug. 30 House of Representatives election, he traveled with his wife to apologize to voters in his constituency, Hokkaido Constituency No. 11. He was defeated by Tomohiro Ishikawa of the Democratic Party of Japan.

Nakagawa's neighbors also were shocked by the lawmaker's sudden death.

A 47-year-old woman said she saw Nakagawa carrying plastic bags from a convenience store early one morning a few days ago. When she said "Good morning" to him, he bowed but did not say anything, she said.

Nakagawa was walking with his face downcast and looked somewhat depressed, she said.

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Posted by BiodunIginla at 10:17 PM Labels: bbc news. xian wan biodun iginla 0 comments:

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