Toshihiro Nikai

Toshihiro Nikai in November 2006

Toshihiro Nikai (二階 俊博, Nikai Toshihiro^?, born February 17, 1939) is a Japanese politician. He was the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. A member of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Nikai is currently serving in his eighth term in the Lower House representing Wakayama's Third District.^[1]

Nikai was born in Wakayama Prefecture and attended Chuo University, graduating with a law degree in 1951. He initially worked as secretary for Saburo Endo, a Diet member from Shizuoka. After Endo's death, Nikai returned to Wakayama, where he won a seat on the prefectural assembly in 1975. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1983.^[1]

He was a member of Noboru Takeshita's faction within the Liberal Democratic Party, but left the party in 1993 to join the Japan Renewal Party (Shinseitō). As a member of the JRP, he served as Vice-Minister of Transportation under Morihiro Hosokawa in 1999.^[1]

He was later a member of the Liberal Party, Conservative Party, and New Conservative Party, independent parties in coalition with the LDP. As Secretary-General of the NCP and part of the governing coalition, he served as Minister of Transportation under Keizō Obuchi and Yoshirō Mori. After the NCP merged with the LDP in 2003, Nikai became an LDP member again, and was appointed Director of the General Affairs Bureau in 2004.^[1]

In 2005, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi tapped Nikai to head the Diet committee in charge of the privatization of Japan Post.^{[citation needed]} Following the general elections of that year, on October 31, Koizumi selected Nikai to head the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, traditionally one of the most highly valued cabinet portfolios.

Later, under Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, Nikai was returned to the post of Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry on August 1, 2008.^[2] Nikai is known to have strong ties with Chinese leaders and accompanied relief supplies to Sichuan after the earthquake there in June 2008.^[1] In the Cabinet of Prime Minister Taro Aso, appointed on 24 September 2008, Nikai was retained as Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.^[3]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} Japan Times, "Fukuda's new lineup", August 3, 2008.
2. ^ "Fukuda overhauls Cabinet / LDP executive shakeup also elevates Aso to party No. 2", The Yomiuri Shimbun, August 2, 2008.
3. ^ "Aso elected premier / Announces Cabinet lineup himself; poll likely on Nov. 2", The Yomiuri Shimbun, 25 September 2008.

Political offices
Preceded by Akira Amari	Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan 2008 - 2009	Succeeded by Masayuki Naoshima
Preceded by Shōichi Nakagawa	Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan 2005 - 2006	Succeeded by Akira Amari
Preceded by Jirō Kawasaki	Minister of Transport 1999 - 2000	Succeeded by Hajime Morita
Preceded by Jirō Kawasaki	Director-General of the Hokkaido Development Agency 1999 - 2000	Succeeded by Hajime Morita
Party political offices
Preceded by Yūya Niwa	Chairman of the LDP General Affairs Committee 2007 - 2008	Succeeded by Takashi Sasagawa
Preceded by Hiroyuki Hosoda	Chairman of the LDP Diet Affairs Committee 2006 - 2007	Succeeded by Tadamori Ōshima
New title New faction	Chairman of Atarashii Nami (Nikai faction) 2003 - 2009	merger with Shisuikai (Ibuki faction)
New political party	Secretary-General of the New Conservative Party 2002 – 2003	merger with Liberal Democratic Party
House of Representatives of Japan
New district	Representative for Wakayama's 3rd district 1996 –	Incumbent
Preceded by Keijirō Shōji Takashi Hayakawa Hiroshi Ōshima	Representative for Wakayama's 2nd District (multi-member) 1983 – 1996 Served alongside: Minoru Noda, Riki Azuma, Kazuo Tamaki	District eliminated

Persondata
Name	Nikai, Toshihiro
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1939
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death