Yasuo Fukuda

Infobox Prime Minister
name = Yasuo Fukuda


order = 91st Prime Minister of Japan
term_start = 26 September 2007
term_end = 24 September 2008
monarch = Akihito
predecessor = Shinzō Abe
successor = Taro Aso
office2 = Chief Cabinet Secretary
term_start2 = October 2000
term_end2 = 7 May 2004
primeminister2 = Yoshiro Mori
Junichiro Koizumi
predecessor2 = Hidenao Nakagawa
successor2 = Hiroyuki Hosoda
office3 = Representative of the 4th Gunma Prefecture
term_start3 = 1996
term_end3 =
predecessor3 = New constituency
successor3 =
birth_date = birth date and age|1936|07|16|df=y
birth_place = Takasaki, Gunma, Japan
spouse = Kiyoko Fukuda
majority3 = 118,517 (62.83%)
party = Liberal Democratic Partynihongo|Yasuo Fukuda|福田 康夫|Fukuda Yasuo|extra=born 16 July 1936 was the 91st Prime Minister of Japan, serving from 2007 to 2008. He was previously the longest-serving Chief Cabinet Secretary in Japanese history, serving for three and a half years (2000–2004) under Prime Ministers Yoshiro Mori and Junichiro Koizumi.Keiichi Yamamura and Sachiko Sakamaki, [http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601101&sid=aY0ClrGXIrYE&refer=japan "Fukuda Challenges Aso in Race to Be Prime Minister"] , Bloomberg.com, 14 September 2007.]

Following the resignation of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Fukuda was elected as President of the Liberal Democratic Party and became Prime Minister in September 2007. Fukuda was the first son of a former Japanese Prime Minister (Takeo Fukuda) to also take up the post.

On 1 September 2008, Fukuda announced his resignation, triggering another LDP leadership election. [cite web| last=Kato| first=Taku| title=Fukuda Resigns as Japan's Prime Minister Citing Gridlock |publisher=Bloomberg.com |date=1 September 2008 |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601101&sid=aGE.N_ls3m14&refer=japan |accessyear=2008|accessdaymonth=1 September] Although Japan hosted the G8 summit meeting without mishap during Fukuda's time in office, Fukuda himself earned little or no credit from ordinary Japanese, and when he resigned, he became the first of the G8 leaders to leave office. [ [http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12036328 "Get someone else,"] "The Economist". 1 September 2008.]

Early life

Fukuda was born in Takasaki, Gunma, the eldest son of politician (later the 67th Prime Minister) Takeo Fukuda. He grew up in Setagaya, Tokyo, attending Azabu High School and graduating from Waseda University in 1959 with a degree in economics. After university, he joined Maruzen Petroleum (now part of the Cosmo Oil Company). He was only minimally involved in politics over the next seventeen years, working his way up to section chief as a typical Japanese "salaryman". He was posted to the United States from 1962 to 1964.

While his father Takeo Fukuda was prime minister from 1976 to 1978, Yasuo became a political secretary. From 1978 to 1989, he was a director of the Kinzai Institute for Financial Affairs, serving as a trustee from 1986 onward.

Political career

Fukuda ran for the House of Representatives in 1990 and won a seat. He was elected deputy director of the Liberal Democratic Party in 1997 and became Chief Cabinet Secretary to Yoshiro Mori in October 2000. He resigned his position as Chief Cabinet Secretary on 7 May 2004 amid a large political scandal related to the Japanese pension system.

Fukuda was considered a contender for the leadership of the LDP in 2006, but on 21 July he decided that he would not seek the nomination. Instead, Shinzo Abe succeeded Junichiro Koizumi as leader of the LDP and Prime Minister of Japan.

One of his most noted policy goals is to end prime ministerial visits to Yasukuni Shrine. In June 2006, Fukuda joined 134 other lawmakers in proposing a secular alternative to the shrine, citing constitutional concerns. [" [http://www.shanghaidaily.com/art/2006/06/16/283371/Japan_lawmakers_seek_to_replace_war_shrine.htm Japan lawmakers seek to replace war shrine] ," "Shanghai Daily", 16 June 2006.]

Election as Prime Minister

Following Abe's resignation in September 2007, Fukuda announced that he would run in the Liberal Democratic Party leadership election, which would also determine the prime minister, given the LDP's majority in the House of Representatives. Fukuda received a great deal of support in his bid, including that of the LDP's largest faction, led by Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura, of which Fukuda is a member. Finance Minister Fukushiro Nukaga‎, who initially had intended to run for the leadership, also backed Fukuda. [ [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/09/14/asia/AS-GEN-Japan-Nukaga.php "Japan's finance chief not to run for ruling party president"] , Associated Press ("International Herald Tribune"), 14 September 2007.] Fukuda's only competitor for the leadership, Taro Aso, publicly acknowledged the likelihood of his own defeat a week before the election. [ [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/09/16/asia/AS-POL-Japan-Politics.php "Former FM Aso acknowledges probable defeat in Japan's leadership race"] , Associated Press ("International Herald Tribune"), 16 September 2007.]

In the election, on 23 September, Fukuda defeated Aso, receiving 330 votes against Aso's 197. [ [http://voanews.com/english/2007-09-23-voa5.cfm "Fukuda Chosen to Replace Abe as Japan's Prime Minister"] , VOA News, 23 September 2007.] Fukuda was formally elected as Japan's 91st prime minister on 25 September.cite web |url=http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/20070925p2a00m0na029000c.html |title=LDP leader Fukuda elected prime minister |date=25 September 2007|accessyear=2007|accessdaymonth=26 September|publisher="Mainichi Daily News"] He received 338 votes, almost 100 more than necessary for a majority, in the House of Representatives; although the House of Councillors (the upper house), led by the opposition Democratic Party, elected Ichiro Ozawa over Fukuda by a margin of 133 to 106. This deadlock was then resolved in favor of the lower house's choice, according to Article 67 of the Constitution. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7011596.stm "Fukuda installed as Japanese PM"] , BBC News, 25 September 2007.]

Fukuda and his cabinet were formally sworn in by Emperor Akihito on 26 September. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7013581.stm "Japan's new leadership sworn in"] , BBC News, 26 September 2007.]

udden resignation

On 1 September 2008, Fukuda announced his resignation, citing reasons related to improving the flow of the political process.

The announcement was sudden, with the call for an emergency press conference issued at 6:00 pm, and the purpose not disclosed until 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the press conference. The resignation was widely compared to the sudden resignation of Abe a year earlier. Fukuda said that while Abe's resignation was due to health reasons, his own resignation was motivated by a desire to remove impediments to legislative and political process due to deadlock between his party and the opposition-controlled upper house of the Diet. [cite web| last=Kato| first=Taku| title=Fukuda Resigns as Japan's Prime Minister Citing Gridlock |publisher=Bloomberg.com |date=1 September 2008 |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601101&sid=aGE.N_ls3m14&refer=japan |accessyear=2008|accessdaymonth=1 September]

The resignation will lead to another leadership election within the LDP, and the winner will succeed Fukuda as Prime Minister until the government dissolves the Diet and calls a general election, [ [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article4653861.ece timesonline.co.uk, Japanese PM, Yasuo Fukuda, in shock resignation after just one year in job] ] which is due by September 2009. Taro Aso was viewed as the likely front-runner to replace Fukuda, and was elected a week later. Fukuda's popularity was hit by a controversial medical plan for elderly people, falling below 30% at one stage. He said: [ [http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/09/01/japan.pm/ edition.cnn.com, Beleaguered Japanese PM resigns] ] [ [http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gRrKci45O-Xg9CEOqIoQqNz_kafAD92TUDK02 ap.google.com, Unpopular Japanese prime minister resigns] ] [ [http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5htuAUeVI6W0hUPZZH8gUvFh-3cLg afp.google.com, Japan PM Fukuda resigns] ]

Today, I have decided to resign. We need a new line-up to cope with a new session of parliament. My decision is based on what I thought the future political situation ought to be. The Democratic Party has tried to stall every bill so it has taken a long time to implement any policies. For the sake of the Japanese people, this should not be repeated. If we are to prioritize the people's livelihoods, there cannot be a political vacuum from political bargaining, or a lapse in policies. We need a new team to carry out policies.

Taro Aso was elected to succeed Fukuda as LDP President on September 22. Fukuda and his cabinet resigned "en masse" on September 24, 2008, to make way for a new Cabinet headed by Aso. Aso was elected as Prime Minister by the House of Representatives on the same day. [ [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24396000-2703,00.html theaustralian.news.com, Taro Aso confirmed as Japan's new Prime Minister] ] [ [http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hlQO-kyvIEyrc0I90V5l0LFN7JTwD93CT7200 ap.google.com, Japan ruling party leader elected prime minister] ]

Controversies

tatements on "Super Free"

When Fukuda was Chief Cabinet Secretary to former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi he was reported to have made highly controversial comments during an off-the-record discussion with reporters in June 2003 regarding the victims of rape by male members of the Waseda University "Super Free" club [cite news |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/09/02/world/main571280.shtml |title=Rape Debate In Japan |publisher=CBS |date=2 September 2003| accessyear=2008|accessdaymonth=19 January] , according to an article in the weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun. [ [http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20030704a3.html Fukuda accused of defending rape] "Japan Times", 4 July 2003] The magazine quoted Fukuda as saying: "There are women who look like they are saying 'Do it to me'. Those who have that kind of appearance are at fault, because men are black panthers." In response, Fukuda claimed that the Shukan Bunshun had distorted his comments, stating that he had never intended to defend rape, and told a parliamentary panel afterwards that rape was "a criminal act and an atrocious crime". [" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3042316.stm Japan rape victims 'asking for it'] ," "BBC News", 3 July 2003.] [" [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0XPQ/is_2003_July_8/ai_104847267 Fukuda denies making remarks defending alleged gang rapists] , "Kyodo", 8 July 2003]

Refueling debate

One of the major issues during Fukuda's first months in office was the status of Japan's Indian Ocean refueling mission. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7006285.stm|title=Profile: Yasuo Fukuda|publisher=BBC News|date=23 September 2007|accessyear=2008|accessdaymonth=14 June] After the September 11 attacks and the subsequent invasion of Afghanistan, the Diet passed a bill that allowed Japanese oil tankers to provide fuel for American ships involved in military operations. When Fukuda became Prime Minister he vowed to continue the mission, this despite the fact that the DPJ which opposed the authorization bill now had a majority in the upper house. After several months of debate and aborted attempts at compromise the upper house rejected the bill to continue the mission. However, the bill ultimately became law as Fukuda used the LDP's 2/3 majority in the lower house to win successful passage for the bill. [cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/11/AR2008011103378.html|title=Japan to Resume Its Mission in Indian Ocean|publisher=Associated Press ("Washington Post")|date=12 January 2008|accessyear=2008|accessdaymonth=14 June]

Censure motion

On 11 June 2008, a non-binding censure motion was passed by parliament's opposition-controlled upper house against Yasuo Fukuda. Filed by the Democratic Party of Japan and two other parties, it was the first censure motion against a prime minister under Japan's post-war constitution. Ahead of the G8 summit, it attacked his handling of domestic issues including an unpopular medical plan and called for a snap election or his resignation. On Thursday, 12 June, a motion of confidence was passed by the lower house's ruling coalition to counter the censure. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7447698.stm news.bbc.co.uk, Censure passed against Japan PM] ] [ [http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hqbkGkgfBJBibIwxI80NR3qopwOw afp.google.com, Japan PM humiliated by parliament] ] [ [http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/06/11/Censure_motion_offered_against_Fukuda/UPI-54481213182357/ www.upi.com, Censure motion offered against Fukuda] ] [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7449889.stm Boost for Japan's beleaguered PM] BBC News]

Cabinet

Fukuda's cabinet was formed on 26 September 2007. [cite news|url=http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/hukudadaijin/070926/index_e.html|title=Members of the Abe Cabinet|accessyear=2007|accessdaymonth=28 September NB: Despite the title of the page it is indeed the list of members of Fukuda Cabinet.] It was almost identical to Abe's. [cite news |url=http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20070926a1.html |title=Fukuda elected prime minister in Diet faceoff |publisher=The Japan Times |author=Masami Ito |date=26 September 2007 |accessyear=2007|accessdaymonth=26 September] Since his administration started in September, their approval rating has continually dropped. According to Asahi Shimbun newspaper, in late April the disapproval rating of the Cabinet was 60 percent and the approval rating 25 percent. [cite news|url=http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200804220050.html|title= Support rate for Fukuda plummets to 25%
publisher= The Asahi Shimbun|accessyear=2008|accessdaymonth=24 April] Yasuo Fukuda reshuffled his cabinet on 1 August 2008. [cite web|url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jPdlrPqflHTM3BzECO19WFkVYgswD929IDH80|title=Japanese prime minister reshuffles Cabinet|publisher=Associated Press|date=1 August 2008|accessyear=2008|accessdaymonth=2 August]

Gallery

Decorations

In March 2008, Croatian President Stjepan Mesić presented Fukuda with the Grand Order of Queen Jelena with the Sash and the Croatian Morning Star. [cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=President Mesić meets Japanese Emperor Akihito | date=5 March 2008| publisher=HINA | url =http://www.predsjednik.hr/default.asp?ru=2&gl=200803060000003&sid=&jezik=2 | work = | pages = | accessdaymonth = 10 March|accessyear= 2008| language = ] The decoration was given to Fukuda for his efforts in promoting friendly relations between Japan and Croatia. [cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Japan-Croatia Summit Meeting | date=5 March 2008 | publisher=Prime Minister of Japan and His Cabinet | url =http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/hukudaphoto/2008/03/05croatia_e.html | work = | pages = | accessyear= 2008|accessdaymonth=10 March| language = ]

ee also

* Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD-IV), 2008.

References

External links

* [http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/index-e.html Official website] ja icon

Persondata
NAME = Fukuda, Yasuo
ALTERNATIVE NAMES = 福田 康夫 (Japanese)
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Japanese Prime Minister
DATE OF BIRTH = 16 July 1936
PLACE OF BIRTH = Takasaki, Gunma, Japan
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =