Former Japanese finance minister Shoichi Nakagawa, who was forced to resign over his apparently drunken behavior at a meeting of world leaders, was found dead at his home, police said yesterday. He was 56.
His sudden death sent a shock wave through the country, with leaders of both ruling and opposition parties regretfully recalling the arch-hawk’s turbulent political career.
Nakagawa was lying face down on a bed at his home in Tokyo’s residential district of Setagaya when his wife found him early yesterday, police and news reports said.
“We will soon conduct an autopsy and specify the cause of his death,” a spokeswoman for the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department said.
No suicide note was discovered and there was no suggestion of foul play, police said. News reports said he had been dead for up to eight hours before he was found.
Jiji Press news agency said Nakagawa had recently been taking sleeping pills as he was suffering from insomnia, while TV Asahi reported the cause of his death was likely to be illness.
Nakagawa, a close ally of then-prime minister Taro Aso, was incoherent and slurred his speech at a news conference in February after the G7 talks in Rome amid the global economic crisis.
A heavyweight in the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Nakagawa said he had sipped some wine with lunch before the press conference, but blamed jet lag and cold medicine for his drowsiness.
“I’m too shocked to think of any words to say,” Aso was quoted by public broadcaster NHK as saying after hearing the news.
“As finance minister and state minister for finance services, he backed the Aso administration with his outstanding ability as we were tackling the financial crisis,” he said. “I offer my condolences.”
The debacle dealt a blow to Aso, who resigned last month after his conservative LDP suffered a massive defeat against Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama’s Democratic Party of Japan in August.
“I was so surprised to hear about his sudden death,” Hatoyama was quoted by Jiji as saying. “I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.”
Nakagawa, who had made no secret about his fondness for drinking, promised to swear off alcohol ahead of the elections, but lost his seat in his rural constituency in Hokkaido.
“I have no power anymore,” a disappointed Nakagawa told his supporters following the poll.
“But I want to return your favor,” he added, hinting at running for a future election.
The former finance chief joined the Industrial Bank of Japan in 1978 after graduating from the elite University of Tokyo.
He spent five years at the bank, which is now part of Mizuho Financial Group.
His political career began with tragedy. Nakagawa was first elected a lawmaker in the lower house in 1983 by taking over the Hokkaido constituency of his father, Ichiro Nakagawa, following his suicide.
Ichiro Nakagawa killed himself by swallowing pills in a hotel room, a year after losing a bid to be prime minister.
Shoichi Nakagawa rose up the ranks to lead the influential ministry of economy, trade and industry as well as the agriculture ministry.
He triggered controversy with strong criticism of China and calls for Japan to consider developing nuclear weapons.
He was also known for being pro-Taiwan and admiring former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝).
Finance Minister Hirohisa Fujii, now visiting Istanbul to attend a meeting of G7 financial chiefs, told reporters: “I think he fulfilled his duty with all his might.”
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