Yaichi Tanigawa
{{short description|Japanese politician}}
{{Family name hatnote|Tanigawa|lang=Japanese}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Yaichi Tanigawa
| native_name = {{nobold|谷川 弥一}}
| native_name_lang = ja
| image = 代議士画像２.jpg
| caption = Official portrait, 2007
| office = Member of the House of Representatives
| term_start = 9 November 2003
| term_end = 24 January 2024
| predecessor = Kazuo Torashima
| successor = {{ill|Katzuhiko Yamada|ja|山田勝彦 (政治家)}}
| constituency = Nagasaki 3rd district (2003–2009; 2012–2024)
Kyushu PR (2009–2012)
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1941|8|12|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Gotō, Nagasaki, Japan
| party = Independent
| otherparty = Liberal Democratic (until 2024)
| website = {{URL|http://www.tanigawa81.jp/}}
}}
{{Nihongo|Yaichi Tanigawa|谷川 弥一|Tanigawa Yaichi|extra=born 12 August 1941}} is a Japanese politician who served in the House of Representatives between 2003 and 2024. He served as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party until 2024.
In January 2024, amidst a slush fund scandal involving LDP politicians, he was summarily indicted on charges of failing to disclose political kickbacks. He resigned from the LDP and the House of Representatives following the indictment.
Early life and career
Yaichi Tanigawa was born 12 August 1941 in the city of Gotō, and is a graduate of Nagasaki Higashi High School. He served in the Nagasaki Prefecture assembly from 1999 to 2003, and founded Tanigawa Kensetsu Co., later serving as chairman of both the corporation and the assembly.{{Cite web |title=TANIGAWA Yaichi |url=https://www.shugiin.go.jp/internet/itdb_english.nsf/html/statics/member/e272.htm |access-date=20 January 2024 |website=The House of Representatives, Japan}}
Political career
Tanigawa was first elected as a member of the House of Representatives from the Liberal Democratic Party in the 2003 Japanese general election, replacing Kazuo Torashima as representative from Nagasaki 3rd district. He narrowly defeated Democratic Party of Japan candidate Masahiko Yamada, who was elected in the Kyushu proportional representation block.{{cite web|url=http://go2senkyo.com/precinct/2011100342449.html|script-title=ja:第43回衆議院議員選挙 - 長崎3区|work= ザ･選挙|access-date=20 January 2024|publisher=Heartbeats Corp.|language=ja}} Tanigawa was re-elected against Yamada in 2005{{cite web|url=http://go2senkyo.com/precinct/2011100343382.html|script-title=ja:第44回衆議院議員選挙 - 長崎3区|work= ザ･選挙|access-date=20 January 2024|publisher=Heartbeats Corp.|language=ja}} before losing his seat to Yamada in 2009.{{cite web|url=http://go2senkyo.com/precinct/2011100343071.html|script-title=ja:第45回衆議院議員選挙 - 長崎3区|work= ザ･選挙|access-date=20 January 2024|publisher=Heartbeats Corp.|language=ja}} This time, Tanigawa was elected to the Kyushu PR block. He was later re-elected to Nagasaki 3rd district.
Prior to his resignation from the LDP during the 2023–2024 Japanese slush fund scandal, Tanigawa was a member of the Seiwa Seisaku Kenkyūkai, closely associated with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.{{Cite news |date=17 January 2024 |title=Scandal-Tainted Lawmaker Intends to Resign If Case Over Alleged Hidden Fund Built |url=https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20240117-162647/ |access-date=20 January 2024 |work=Yomiuri Shimbun}} After his resignation, a by-election was held to replace Tanigawa on 28 April 2024, and was won by {{ill|Katzuhiko Yamada|ja|山田勝彦 (政治家)}} of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan.{{cite news |date=28 April 2024 |script-title=ja:衆院補欠選挙長崎３区 立民の前議員 山田勝彦氏 当選 |trans-title=CDP member Katsuhiko Yamada wins House of Representatives by-election in Nagasaki 3rd district |url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/lnews/nagasaki/20240428/5030020667.html |work=NHK |access-date=4 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240429075511/https://www3.nhk.or.jp/lnews/nagasaki/20240428/5030020667.html |archive-date=29 April 2024 |url-status=live}}
Controversy
= Korea remarks =
In May 2019 Tanigawa acquired attention after complaining of his frustration regarding the construction of the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen, comparing negotiations over the project to "dealing with South or North Korea." Following public backlash, he apologised for his remarks.{{Cite news |date=20 May 2019 |title=In latest gaffe, LDP lawmaker compares 'frustrating' work with Saga Prefecture to 'dealing with the Koreas' |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/05/20/national/politics-diplomacy/latest-ldp-gaffe-lawmaker-compares-working-saga-prefecture-dealing-koreas-inspection-shinkansen-line-tunnel/ |access-date=20 January 2024 |work=The Japan Times}}
= Slush fund scandal =
{{see also|2023–2024 Japanese slush fund scandal}}
On 9 January 2024, amidst a broader scandal in the LDP, allegations began to emerge that Tanigawa had received ¥40 million in kickbacks from the Seiwa Seisaku Kenkyūkai, along with his secretary.{{Cite news |date=19 January 2024 |title=Eight Charged In Japan Kickbacks Scandal, Ruling Party Factions Dissolve |url=https://www.barrons.com/news/japan-prosecutors-charge-two-lawmakers-over-fund-scandal-45686055 |access-date=20 January 2024 |work=Barron's |agency=Agence France-Presse}} On 16 January he stated to party leadership that he intended to resign from the House of Representatives if he was indicted. Three days later, after he was formally indicted by Tokyo Police (alongside Yasutada Ōno) for violating the {{ill|Political Funds Control Act|ja|政治資金規正法}}, Tanigawa announced his resignation from the LDP and publicly apologised.{{Cite news |date=19 January 2024 |title=Prosecutors indict several LDP faction members over funds scandal |url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/01/f4d6ea5b7d8f-update1-prosecutors-indict-several-ldp-faction-members-over-funds-scandal.html |access-date=20 January 2024 |work=Kyodo News}} He resigned from the House of Representatives on 24 January.{{Cite news |date=24 January 2024 |title=Ex-LDP member Tanigawa resigns as lawmaker amid funds scandal |url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/01/4664a26fdbe7-ex-ldp-member-tanigawa-resigns-as-lawmaker-amid-funds-scandal.html |access-date=4 October 2024 |work=Kyodo News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124072031/https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/01/4664a26fdbe7-ex-ldp-member-tanigawa-resigns-as-lawmaker-amid-funds-scandal.html |archive-date=24 January 2024 |url-status=live}}
References
Further information
- {{Cite news|url=http://www.senkyo.janjan.jp/diet/profile/0000/00000279.html |script-title=ja:政治家情報 〜谷川 弥一〜 |script-newspaper=ja:ザ･選挙 |newspaper=JANJAN |access-date=2007-10-02 |language=ja}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tanigawa, Yaichi}}
Category:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan) politicians
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