Masahiro Imamura
{{Short description|Japanese politician (born 1947)}}
{{distinguish|text=the Masahiro Imamura (writer)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Masahiro Imamura
| native_name = {{nobold|今村 雅弘}}
| native_name_lang = ja
| image = Masahiro Imamura 201608 1.jpg
| image_size = 220px
| caption = Imamura in 2016
| office = Minister for Reconstruction
| primeminister = Shinzo Abe
| term_start = 3 August 2016
| term_end = 26 April 2017
| predecessor = Tsuyoshi Takagi
| successor = Masayoshi Yoshino
| office1 = Member of the House of Representatives
| constituency1 = Saga 2nd (1996–2009; 2012-2014)
Kyushu PR (2009–2012; 2014–2024)
| term_start1 = 21 October 1996
| term_end1 = 9 October 2024
| predecessor1 = Constituency established
| successor1 = Multi-member district
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1947|1|25|df=y}}
| birth_place = Kashima, Saga, Japan
| party = Liberal Democratic (before 2005; 2006–present)
| otherparty = Independent (2005–2006)
| alma_mater = University of Tokyo
}}
{{nihongo|Masahiro Imamura|今村 雅弘|Imamura Masahiro|extra=born January 25, 1947}} is a former Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party who served as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature).
Overview
A native of Kashima, Saga and a graduate of the University of Tokyo, he was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 1996 after working for the Japan Railways Group.
Career
- Japanese National Railways (employee of Kyusyu Railway Co. after the privatization)
- State Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries
- Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
- Chairman, Committee on Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
- Chairman, Special Committee on Audit and Oversight of Administration
- Chairman, Regional Government Promotion Headquarters
- Minister of reconstruction for disaster-hit regions
Yasukuni visits and right wing affiliations
File:Shinzo Abe and Masahiro Imamura cropped Hiroaki Hiruta Shinzo Abe and Masahiro Imamura 20170408.jpg (in Naraha Town, Futaba District, Fukushima Prefecture on April 8, 2017)]]
File:Masahiro Imamura and Shinzo Abe cropped Masahiro Imamura Shinzo Abe and Hiroaki Nagasawa 20170408.jpg (in Namie Town, Futaba District, Fukushima Prefecture on April 8, 2017)]]
On August 11, 2016, one week after joining Prime Minister Shinzō Abe's cabinet as reconstruction minister for disaster-hit regions, Masahiro Imamura visited the controversial Yasukuni shrine."[http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/08/11/national/politics-diplomacy/reconstruction-minister-visits-war-linked-yasukuni-shrine Reconstruction minister visits war-linked Yasukuni Shrine]" (Japan Times - August 11, 2016)
In late 2016, hours after Abe and Defense Minister Tomomi Inada met President Barack Obama in Hawaii and Abe expressed 'everlasting condolences' for the casualties of the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, Imamura again visited the shrine.[http://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/2057841/japan-defence-minister-visits-yasukuni-war-shrine-one-day-after "Japan defence minister visits Yasukuni war shrine, one day after visiting Pearl Harbour with Abe"], AFP via South China Morning Post, 29 December 2016. Retrieved 2016-12-28. The visit garnered "a sharp rebuke from Beijing". Imamura said his visit had “nothing to do with” Abe’s trip and the timing was “a coincidence”, saying he "wished to express gratitude and prayed for Japan’s peace and prosperity".Bruton, F. Brinley, and Eric Baculinao, [https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/japan-minister-s-visit-war-dead-shrine-prompts-anger-china-n700686 "Japan Minister's Visit to War Dead Shrine Prompts Anger in China, South Korea"], NBC.com, December 28, 2016. Retrieved 2016-12-28.
Imamura is a member of key right-wing Diet groups:"日本会議の全貌、花伝社" (Yoshifumi Tawara, Kadensha, 2016)
- Nippon Kaigi (revisionist lobby)
- Pro-Yasukuni Alliance
- Conference of young parliamentarians supporting the idea that the Yasukuni Shrine is a true national interest and desire for peace
- Japan Rebirth (Sosei Nippon)
- Shinto Seiji Renmei Kokkai Giin Kondankai (Sinseiren, Shinto Political League - Shinto fundamentalism)
Ahead of the 2012 elections,[http://senkyo.mainichi.jp/46shu/kaihyo_area_meikan.html?mid=A41002002002 Mainichi questionnaire] Imamura positioned himself in favor of:
- changing the Article 9 of the Constitution of Japan, which prohibits the exercise of the right of collective self-defense
- considering the nuclear armament of Japan
- re-operating the nuclear power plants that meet the new standards of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Masahiro Imamura, who holds rather radical positions about nuclear issues, was until April 26, 2017 the minister in charge of coping with the aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster. He was forced to step down over a remark that he had made the previous day suggesting that it had been better that the 2011 earthquake and tsunami had hit the Tohoku region than the Tokyo region. He has been replaced by Masayoshi Yoshino who had been chairman of the special House of Representatives committee on Tohoku reconstruction.{{cite news|title=Masahiro Imamura: Japanese minister quits over Fukushima comments|work=BBC News |date=25 April 2017 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-39708806|accessdate=26 April 2017}}
References
{{Reflist}}
- {{cite web |url=http://www.senkyo.janjan.jp/diet/profile/0000/00000275.html |script-title=ja:政治家情報 〜今村 雅弘〜 |work=senkyo.janjan.jp/ ザ･選挙 |publisher=JANJAN |accessdate=2007-10-16 |language=Japanese}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.imamura-masahiro.com/}} in Japanese.
- Profile on the LDP website: [http://www.jimin.jp/english/profile/members/114645.html jimin.jp/english/profile/members/114645.html]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Imamura, Masahiro}}
Category:University of Tokyo alumni
Category:People from Kashima, Saga
Category:Politicians from Saga Prefecture
Category:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan) politicians
Category:Members of the House of Representatives (Japan) 1996–2000
Category:Members of the House of Representatives (Japan) 2000–2003
Category:Members of the House of Representatives (Japan) 2003–2005
Category:Members of the House of Representatives (Japan) 2005–2009
Category:Members of the House of Representatives (Japan) 2009–2012
Category:Members of the House of Representatives (Japan) 2012–2014
Category:Members of the House of Representatives (Japan) 2014–2017
Category:Members of the House of Representatives (Japan) 2017–2021
Category:Members of the House of Representatives (Japan) 2021–2024