Fumio Kyuma

Infobox Defense Minister
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name = Fumio Kyuma
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office = Defense Minister
term_start = September 9 2006
term_end = July 3 2007
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predecessor = Fukushiro Nukaga
successor = Yuriko Koike
constituency = Nagasaki Prefecture 2nd District
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birth_date = Birth date and age|1940|12|4|mf=y
birth_place = Minamishimabara, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan
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party = Liberal Democratic Party
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footnotes =nihongo|Fumio Kyuma|久間章生|Kyūma Fumio (born December 4 1940) is a Japanese politician who has served in the Diet of Japan since 1980. [ [http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/abedaijin/060926/14kyuma_e.html Kantei "Fumio Kyuma"] ] Kyuma graduated from the University of Tokyo in 1964 and worked for the Ministry of Agriculture. [ [http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cabinet/cabinet_profiles_n.html "Japan Times" "Cabinet Profile"] ] He was elected to the Nagasaki Prefectural Assembly in 1971 serving three terms before being elected to the Diet as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) for Nagasaki Number 2.

Defense Minister

Kyuma served as the Minister for Defense between 1996 and 1998 under Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto. He served in a variety of LDP posts in Junichiro Koizumi's cabinet. [ [http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cabinet/cabinet_profiles_n.html "Japan Times" "Cabinet Profile"] ] He again became responsible for defense in September 2006. [ [http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/abedaijin/060926/14kyuma_e.html Kantei "Fumio Kyumi"] ]

Controversial remarks

In September 2006, shortly after he was appointed Defense Minister, Kyuma stated that the Chinese military was a concern, contradicting earlier comments that he had made referring to China's military as a threat. [http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2006-09/30/content_700049.htm "Japan defense chief: China not threat"]

In December 2006, Kyuma claimed that although former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi supported the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, the invasion did not have the official support of the Japanese government. He later had to withdraw his remarks, admitting that the Japanese "Cabinet officially adopted a unified view supporting the U.S.-led war." [ [http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20061209a2.html "Kyuma admits Tokyo backed Iraq attack"] ] On January 24 2007 he said that the U.S. decision to invade Iraq was a mistake. [ [http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20070125a1.html "Kyuma: U.S. invasion of Iraq a mistake"] ]

In January 2007 he criticized the United States over not getting the approval of Okinawa's governor during efforts to relocate the Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. The base and its relocation has been a source of friction between the residents of Okinawa and the U.S. government. [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/japan/story/0,,2001251,00.html "Japan moves to defuse diplomatic spat with US"] ]

Resignation

He resigned as Defense Minister on July 3 2007 for remarks made at Reitaku University in Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture on June 30. Kyuma said "I now have come to accept in my mind that in order to end the war, it could not be helped that an atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki and that countless numbers of people suffered great tragedy." After appearing on a Fuji TV morning news show on July 1, saying he did not think an apology would be necessary, he apologized later the same day. When this would not calm the critics, Kyuma finally submitted his resignation on July 3. [ [http://www.japannewsreview.com/politics/20070703page_id=283 "Japan News Review" "Kyuma steps down over A-bomb gaffe" 3 July 2007] ] Asked about the reason for his resignation, Kyuma is quoted as saying that he did not want his comments to become a "minus" for the Prime Minister. [ [http://www.japannewsreview.com/politics/20070703page_id=301 "Japan News Review" "Kyuma's excuse: 'It can’t be helped' is often said in Kyushu dialect" 3 July 2007] ] Yuriko Koike was appointed his successor the same day. [ [http://www.japannewsreview.com/politics/politics/20070704page_id=337 "Japan News Review" "Yuriko Koike appointed new Defense Minister"] ]

References