Wataru Takeshita (竹下 亘, Takeshita Wataru, November 3, 1946 – September 17, 2021) was a Minister for Reconstruction and a Japanese politician serving in the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature) as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. A native of Kakeya, Shimane and graduate of Keio University he was elected for the first time in 2000. His elder brother was former prime minister Noboru Takeshita.
Before entering politics in 2000, Takeshita was a reporter with NHK, then began working for his brother as an aide in 1985.[1]
He was the leader of the Heisei Kenkyukai faction from 2018 until his death 3 years later,[2] which supported Yoshihide Suga in the 2020 Liberal Democratic Party of Japan leadership election.[3]
Takeshita was affiliated to the openly revisionist organization Nippon Kaigi.[4] He held an anti-homosexual stand.[5]
In July 2021, Takeshita announced that he would be retiring from politics at the next general election for health reasons, having been diagnosed with esophageal cancer in 2019.[6] He died in office on 17 September 2021.[7]
References
edit- ^ "Japan ruling LDP faction chief Wataru Takeshita dies at 74". 18 September 2021. Archived from the original on 18 September 2021. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
- ^ "The LDP loses a heavyweight". 16 July 2021. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
- ^ Johnston, Eric (October 28, 2020). "Two LDP factions face uncertain future after losing race to Suga". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
Suga was supported by four powerful groups. These included the 98-member Seiwa Seisaku Kenkyukai, led by Hiroyuki Hosoda, head of the Lower House constitutional review board. Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso's 54-member faction, the Shikokai, and former General Council Chair Wataru Takeshita's 54-member faction, the Heisei Kenkyukai, were also behind him.
- ^ "Abe’s reshuffle promotes right-wingers" - Korea Joongang Daily - 2014/09/05
- ^ "自民・竹下亘氏「宮中晩餐会の同性パートナー出席、反対」". Asahi News. 23 November 2017. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
- ^ "Major LDP faction boss Takeshita to retire from politics". Mainichi Shimbun. July 8, 2021. Archived from the original on July 12, 2021. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
Wataru Takeshita, who heads a major faction in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, said Thursday he will retire from politics for health reasons, ruling him out of the next House of Representatives election to be held by this fall. The announcement came as the 74-year-old former chair of the LDP General Council undergoes treatment after revealing an esophageal cancer diagnosis in 2019. He returned to work the following November but has been absent from faction meetings since May.
- ^ "Japan ruling party faction boss Wataru Takeshita dies at 74". 18 September 2021. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
- 政治家情報 〜竹下 亘〜. ザ･選挙 (in Japanese). JANJAN. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
External links
edit- Official website Archived 2020-12-01 at the Wayback Machine in Japanese.
- http://www.takeshita-wataru.com/
 | This article about a Japanese politician born in the 1940s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |