:Shōichi Nakagawa

Nakagawa was born in Tokyo on 19 July 1953 and attended Azabu High School, graduated from the law faculty of the University of Tokyo and entered the Industrial Bank of Japan in 1978.{{cite web|title=Shoichi Nakagawa, Minister of Finance|url=http://www.fccj.or.jp/node/4028|publisher=FCCJ|access-date=2 October 2012|date=21 November 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100312013012/http://www.fccj.or.jp/node/4028|archive-date=12 March 2010}} His father, Ichiro Nakagawa, was a prominent Hokkaidō politician who committed suicide in 1983. The younger Nakagawa was elected to the Japanese House of Representatives in the same year.

In 1998, Nakagawa became Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries under Prime Minister Keizō Obuchi, and in 2003, he became Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry in the cabinet of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. He served as Agriculture Minister from October 2005 to September 2006, when incoming prime minister Shinzō Abe appointed Nakagawa as chairman of the Policy Research Council of the LDP.

In December 2006, Kyodo News Agency quoted Nakagawa as having said the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were "truly unforgivable on humanitarian grounds" and reported the politician's concerns over the possession of nuclear weapons by North Korea.{{Cite news|url=http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/20061218p2a00m0na027000c.html |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20061224152046/http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/20061218p2a00m0na027000c.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 December 2006 |title=National News |publisher=Mainichi Daily News |date=18 December 2006 }}

File:Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer and Shoichi Nakagawa, Parliamentary Member, Liberal Democratic Party, Japan discuss market access of US beef and the Doha Round.jpg. Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer and Shoichi Nakagawa, Parliamentary Member, Liberal Democratic Party, Japan discuss market access of US beef and the Doha Round, 2 May 2008]]

Nakagawa's views were close to those of Abe. In particular, both support nationalism in history education, a hard-line stance regarding North Korea and constitutional amendments. Abe has made efforts to relink ties with neighbouring China, while Nakagawa officially voiced his concern over the country's growing military expenditure, claiming that, were the situation in Taiwan to deteriorate, Japan would become, by 2020, a Chinese colony.{{cite web |url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070227/wl_afp/japanchinamilitarypolitics_070227060053 |title=Japan faces becoming 'Chinese province' - Yahoo! News |access-date=2007-03-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070314152307/http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070227/wl_afp/japanchinamilitarypolitics_070227060053 |archive-date=14 March 2007 }} Yahoo! World News, 26 February 2007 Despite the fact that most of mainstream conservative LDP politicians are usually known for their persistent pro-Americanism, Nakagawa was especially known for his pro-Taiwanism in Japan.[http://www.nikkansports.com/general/news/f-gn-tp1-20090217-462018.html 台湾メディアが現政権『風前のともしび』] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090924103158/http://www.nikkansports.com/general/news/f-gn-tp1-20090217-462018.html |date=24 September 2009 }} {{in lang|ja}} 17 February 2009 Nikkan Sports

On 6 January 2007, in an interview with a reporter from the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph, Nakagawa stated "Women have their proper place: they should be womanly ... They have their own abilities and these should be fully exercised, for example in flower arranging, sewing, or cooking. It's not a matter of good or bad, but we need to accept reality that men and women are genetically different". The paper's Editorial Information Executive could not confirm the source of this information because of the age of the article.

On 2 May 2008, Nakagawa had a discussion about market access of US beef and the Doha Round with Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer.

In the Cabinet of Prime Minister Taro Aso, appointed on 24 September 2008, Nakagawa was appointed as Minister of Finance and Minister of State in charge of Financial Services.[http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20080925TDY01303.htm "Aso elected premier / Announces Cabinet lineup himself; poll likely on Nov. 2"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080928200407/http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20080925TDY01303.htm |date=28 September 2008 }} The Yomiuri Shimbun, 25 September 2008 He was defeated in his constituency in the 2009 general election.{{cite news|last=Ryall|first=Julian|title=Former Japanese minister Shoichi Nakagawa found dead|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/6259326/Former-Japanese-minister-Shoichi-Nakagawa-found-dead.html|access-date=2 October 2012|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=4 October 2009|agency=Tokyo}}

File:Timothy F Geithner and Shoichi Nakagawa 20090213.jpg, United States Secretary of the Treasury (Rome, 13 February 2009)]]

On 10 October 2008, at G7 Nakagawa proposed in Washington a new emergency International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan program to help emerging and small economies such as Iceland, Brazil, Ukraine and Pakistan. The total size of the loans could be about US$200 billion (about 20 trillion yen) In some newly emerging economies and small and medium European countries, total assets in domestic financial institutions far exceed the national gross domestic products and those governments might be unable to raise necessary funds to help failing financial institutions through measures such as nationalisation. "Nakagawa plan" eased the concerns of small countries and emerging markets and reduced tension in international financial markets.{{cite news|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=58363|title=Japan seeks emergency IMF loan programme to stabilise markets|newspaper=The Daily Star}}{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2008-11-12-3482739616_x.htm|title=Report:Japan to offer $105 bln for IMF bailouts|newspaper=The USA Today|first=Yuri|last=Kageyama|date=12 November 2008}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.icenews.is/index.php/2008/10/10/the-japanese-want-imf-to-start-in-iceland|title=The Japanese want the International Monetary Fund to start in Iceland|publisher=IceNews}}

File:Mr.Nakagawa at IMF.JPG,

IMF (Rome, 14 February 2009)]]

On 14 February 2009, Strauss-Kahn stated 'This commitment is the single-largest supplemental financing contribution by an IMF member country ever, and it clearly demonstrates Japan's leadership and continuing commitment to a multilateral approach to global economic and financial challenges.' Strauss-Kahn said he hoped other countries would join Japan in providing support to the 185-nation institution.{{Cite news |url=http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Business/Story/A1Story20090214-121892.html|title=Japan, IMF signs $150b pact|publisher=asiaone}} Prime Minister Taro Aso told Japan was ready to lend up to $100 billion from our foreign reserves to the IMF if it finds itself with insufficient funds to help emergency economies. Nikkei Business Daily reported that selling U.S. government bonds held by Japan to provide cash to the IMF would affect U.S. bond yields so Tokyo may consider lending U.S. government bonds to the IMF as collateral for it to raise funds.

In a communiqué, G-7 ministers committed to acting jointly to support world growth and employment and strengthen the financial sector, while avoiding protectionism. The ministers met as the U.S. Senate voted in favor of a $787 billion economic stimulus plan—clearing the way for it to be signed into law by President Barack Obama. Strauss-Kahn emphasized "The biggest concrete result of this summit is the loan by the Japanese.... I want to thank the Japanese for having led the way.... Now I will continue with the objective of doubling the (IMF) resources," he told reporters. "It is the largest loan ever made in the history of humanity." Loans were made to a number of economies affected by the crisis, including Belarus, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Pakistan, Serbia, and Ukraine. It announced a precautionary loan for El Salvador last month and an IMF team has also been in negotiations with Turkey.{{Cite news| url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/survey/so/2009/NEW021309A.htm| title=IMF Signs $100 Billion Borrowing Agreement With Japan|publisher=IMF}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.mfa.go.th/jtepa/en/archives/news_1111.html|title=Thailand, Japan reach basic accord on FTA (Kyodo News)|publisher=IMF|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928133233/http://www.mfa.go.th/jtepa/en/archives/news_1111.html|archive-date=28 September 2011}}

{{Conservatism in Japan|Politicians}}

Affiliated to the openly revisionist organization Nippon Kaigi,"[http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2994558 Abe’s reshuffle promotes right-wingers" (Korea Joongang Daily - 2014/09/05)] Nakagawa expressed in July 1998 his skepticism about the fact that many schools in Japan taught about forced "comfort women" by the Japanese military during the World War II in history textbooks claiming that there was no evidence that the Japanese government and military were directory involved in recruiting or forcing women to work in the brothels.

:"We admit that there were comfort women who traveled with the military," Nakagawa said. "Poverty and other issues were behind this development, which is quite tragic and sad. It's a sad fact that similar phenomena existed in other parts of the world, including the U.S."{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a83s3dPN3tR8| title=Comfort Women|publisher=Bloomberg|date=13 March 2007}}

Nakagawa had an opposing position to Yōhei Kōno's statement that the Japanese government was directly involved in recruiting and forcing "comfort women" to work in the brothels. He stated in a radio program that he wouldn't acknowledge Kōno's statement as long as the current Japanese government concealed what he thought to be the truth. He added that Kōno had a masochistic view of history and that other countries would even fake their pride for their own countries. He suggested the government amend or withdraw Kōno's statement about "comfort women" immediately.

Nakagawa had been known for his extremely heavy drinking since a young age. A Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (Japan) bureaucrat, who was a fellow of Nakagawa's, witnessed Nakagawa drunk frequently, especially before hosting big political conferences.[http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/news/20090218-OYT1T00004.htm ヤマ場になると飲まずにいられない…中川氏、失態いろいろ]{{in lang|ja}} 18 February 2009 Yomiuri Shimbun

During the G7 meeting of finance ministers in Rome on 14 February 2009, where he signed an agreement to lend an extra $100 billion to the IMF that was described as the "largest loan ever made in the history of humanity",[http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/survey/so/2009/NEW021409A.htm IMF Survey: IMF Gains New Funding, Puts Focus on Bank Clean Up] IMF Nakagawa was seen to be slurring his words.[http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/02/16/business/16japan.php "Japanese finance minister denies he was drunk at G-7" International Herald Tribune, February 16, 2009] Nakagawa claimed that his drowsiness and slurred speech were the result of taking too much cold medicine before the meeting. In "[https://www.amazon.co.jp/exec/obidos/ASIN/4537257431/mixi02-22/ Who Governs The World]", a book published in February 2010 by Takahiko Soejima, he suggest there were more than three people involved in this incident.

Despite calls for his resignation by opposition parties at the time, Nakagawa did not immediately resign; Prime Minister Taro Aso supported him and called for him to continue his duties as Finance Minister.[https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aIb8s.q19XTw "Nakagawa Says He Won't Resign After Meeting Aso (Update2)"] Bloomberg.com, 16 February 2009 However, on 17 February, Nakagawa announced that he had chosen to resign, and his resignation was accepted by Prime Minister Aso that evening.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7893924.stm "Japan finance minister steps down", BBC News, 17 February 2009]

Shōichi Nakagawa died on 3 October 2009, aged 56 at his home in Tokyo. Japanese media reports said his body was found face down on the bed by his wife, with no external injuries.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8289183.stm BBC NEWS Asia-Pacific Japanese ex-minister found dead]{{cite web|url=http://www.france24.com/en/20091004-japan-disgraced-former-finance-minister-found-dead-tokyo-g7-drunk-shoichi-nakagawa|title=Disgraced former finance minister found dead|date=4 October 2009|access-date=5 October 2009|publisher=France 24|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091007184101/http://www.france24.com/en/20091004-japan-disgraced-former-finance-minister-found-dead-tokyo-g7-drunk-shoichi-nakagawa|archive-date=7 October 2009}}{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/10/04/2704364.htm?section=world|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091009114056/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/10/04/2704364.htm?section=world|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 October 2009|title=Disgraced Japanese minister found dead in bedroom|date=4 October 2009|access-date=5 October 2009|publisher=ABC News (Australia)}}{{cite web|url=http://www.euronews.net/2009/10/04/mystery-surrounds-nakagawa-death/|title=Mystery surrounds Nakagawa death|date=4 October 2009|access-date=5 October 2009|publisher=Euronews|archive-date=16 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100516150632/http://www.euronews.net/2009/10/04/mystery-surrounds-nakagawa-death/|url-status=dead}} She alerted ambulance services at approximately 8:30 am.{{cite web|url=http://www.ptinews.com/news/313001_Japan-s-ex-Finance-Minister-found-dead|title=Japan's ex-Finance Minister found dead|date=4 October 2009|access-date=5 October 2009|publisher=Press Trust of India}} His death had taken place at least eight hours previously.{{cite news|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Asia/Story/STIStory_438225.html|title=Ex-minister found dead|date=5 October 2009|access-date=5 October 2009|newspaper=Straits Times}}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} An investigation was done to determine the cause of death.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/03/AR2009100303305.html Former Japanese finance minister found dead]{{dead link|date=June 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, The Washington Post{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10601257|title=Former Japan Minister dies|date=5 October 2009|access-date=5 October 2009|newspaper=The New Zealand Herald}}{{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}} An autopsy was planned to determine the cause of death. A will has not been located.{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/10/03/Japan.nakagawa.dead/index.html?iref=mpstoryview|title=Controversial former Japanese finance minister found dead|date=2009-10-04|access-date=2009-10-05|publisher=CNN}}{{cite web|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2009/10/20091043375284638.html|title=Former minister found dead in Japan|date=4 October 2009|access-date=5 October 2009|publisher=Al Jazeera}} Taro Aso, the former Japanese Prime Minister, was rendered speechless by the news: "I am so deeply shocked that I have no words."{{cite web|url=http://news.iafrica.com/worldnews/1961746.htm|title=Japan: Nakagawa found|date=4 October 2009|access-date=5 October 2009|publisher=iafrica|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720084556/http://news.iafrica.com/worldnews/1961746.htm|archive-date=20 July 2011|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|author=David McNeill|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/shamed-japanese--exminister-found-dead-1797772.html|title=Shamed Japanese ex-minister found dead|date=5 October 2009|access-date=5 October 2009|newspaper=The Independent|location=London}} Hirohisa Fujii, his successor as Finance Minister, also commented: "I want to express my heartfelt condolences. He was doing a fine job as a finance minister, so it is regrettable."{{cite news|author=Justin McCurry|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/oct/04/japanese-finance-minister-dead|title=Former Japanese finance minister found dead|date=4 October 2009|access-date=5 October 2009|newspaper=The Guardian|location=London}} The Sydney Morning Herald said his death had "sent a shock wave throughout the nation."{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/world/japans-exfinance-minister-nakagawa-found-dead-police-20091004-ghxp.html|title=Japan's ex-finance minister Nakagawa found dead: police|date=5 October 2009|access-date=5 October 2009|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald}}

After his death, his widow Yūko Nakagawa ran for his old seat in the 2012 election, which she won and held until 2017,{{cite news|url=http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/election/shugiin/2012/news/20121216-OYT1T00697.htm|script-title=ja:自民・中川郁子氏が初当選…故・昭一氏の妻|newspaper=Yomiuri Shimbun|date=16 December 2012|access-date=11 November 2017|language=ja|archive-date=14 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170614183759/http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/election/shugiin/2012/news/20121216-OYT1T00697.htm|url-status=dead}} before being reelected via the Hokkaido proportional representation block in 2021.

{{reflist}}

{{Portal|Japan|Biography}}

• [http://www.nakagawa-shoichi.jp/ Shoichi Nakagawa's Profile] {{in lang|ja}}

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{{s-ttl|title=Minister of Finance of Japan | years=2008–2009}}

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{{s-ttl|title=Minister of State for Financial Services of Japan | years=2008–2009}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Nakagawa, Shoichi}}

Category:1953 births

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