Shigeru Ishiba
This article may be affected by the following current event: 2024 Liberal Democratic Party (Japan) presidential election. Information in this article may change rapidly as the event progresses. Initial news reports may be unreliable. The last updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. (September 2024) |
Shigeru Ishiba | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
石破 茂 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Prime Minister of Japan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Assuming office 1 October 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Monarch | Naruhito | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeding | Fumio Kishida | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
President of the Liberal Democratic Party | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Assumed office 27 September 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Vice President | Tarō Asō | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Secretary-General | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Fumio Kishida | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Member of the House of Representatives | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Assumed office 8 July 1986 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | multi-member district | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Constituency |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Majority | 85,456 (68.2%) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan | 4 February 1957||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Political party | Liberal Democratic (1986–1993; 1997–present) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other political affiliations | Nippon Kaigi[A] Japan Renewal Party (1993–1994) New Frontier Party (1994–1996) Independent (1996–1997) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Spouse | Yoshiko Ishiba | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Parent | Jiro Ishiba (father) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Relatives | Ichizo Ishiba (grandfather) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Education | Keio Senior High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Alma mater | Keio University (LLB) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Signature | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Website | Official website | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A. ^ The Nippon Kaigi is not a political party but a non-government organization and lobbying group. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shigeru Ishiba (石破 茂, Ishiba Shigeru, born 4 February 1957) is a Japanese politician who has served as President of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) since 2024. He has been a member of the House of Representatives since 1986 and has served as Minister of Defense from 2007 to 2008 and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries from 2008 to 2009, as well as being the Secretary-General of the LDP from 2012 to 2014.
Ishiba was born into a political family, with his father, Jiro Ishiba, serving as Governor of Tottori Prefecture from 1958 to 1974 before later becoming the Minister for Home Affairs. After graduating from Keio University, Ishiba worked in finance before entering politics after his father's death. Ishiba was elected to the House of Representatives in the 1986 general election as a member of the LDP at the age of 29, which made him the youngest member of the National Diet at the time. Ishiba, as a junior Diet member first specialized in agricultural policy before his experiences during the Gulf War in 1990 and a visit to North Korea in 1992 sparked his interest in defense issues. He served as parliamentary vice minister of agriculture under the premiership of Kiichi Miyazawa but left the LDP in 1993 to join the Japan Renewal Party. After transitioning through several parties and returning to the LDP in 1997, Ishiba held various prominent positions, including Director-General of the Defense Agency and Minister of Defense under prime minister Yasuo Fukuda and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries under Tarō Asō.
Ishiba became a key figure within the LDP, running for party leadership multiple times. First in 2008 where he placed fifth, and notably against Shinzo Abe in 2012 and 2018. Despite his criticisms of factionalism, he established his own faction, Suigetsukai, in 2015, aiming for leadership. After Abe's resignation, Ishiba ran in 2020 but placed third behind Yoshihide Suga. He declined to run in the 2021 election but ran for the fifth and final time in 2024 where he beat opponent Sanae Takaichi in a second round run-off, becoming the new party leader and prime minister designate.
Ishiba has developed a reputation as a political maverick due to his willingness to vocally criticize his party, as well as his relatively liberal stances on social issues; he supported a motion of no-confidence against Miyazawa in 1993 and was a vocal critic of Abe throughout Abe's second term, despite serving in the governments of both prime ministers.[1]
Early life
[edit]Ishiba was born on 4 February 1957 in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, while his registered domicile was his father's hometown in the Yazu District of Tottori Prefecture. His father Jirō Ishiba was a government official then serving as Vice Minister of Construction. His mother was a teacher and a granddaughter of the Christian minister Michitomo Kanamori.[2][3][4]
Jirō Ishiba was elected Governor of Tottori Prefecture in 1958, so the family moved to Tottori; Ishiba has no memory of living in Tokyo.[2] Jirō Ishiba would serve as governor until 1974, and was later elected to the House of Councillors and served as Minister for Home Affairs in the Zenkō Suzuki Cabinet.[4]
Shigeru Ishiba grew up and attended school in Tottori Prefecture. After graduating from Tottori University Junior High School, he moved away to attend Keio Senior High School, going on to study law at Keio University in Tokyo. After graduating in 1979, he began working at Mitsui Bank.[5][6] His father died in 1981. Former Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka, who was a friend of his father, served as chairman of the funeral committee. Tanaka encouraged Ishiba to become a politician to carry on his father's legacy.[7]
Political career
[edit]Ishiba left the bank in 1983 and began working in the secretariat of the Thursday Club, Kakuei Tanaka's faction of the Liberal Democratic Party. In the July 1986 election Ishiba ran as an LDP candidate in the Tottori at-large district and was elected to the House of Representative. At the age of 29, he was the youngest member of the House at the time.[6][8]
As a junior Diet member, Ishiba specialised in agricultural policy, but the Gulf War in 1990 and a 1992 visit to North Korea spurred his interest in defense policy.[9] He served as parliamentary vice minister of agriculture under the Miyazawa Cabinet, before defecting from the LDP in 1993, for the Japan Renewal Party. When the Japan Renewal Party merged with several other parties Ishiba became part of the New Frontier Party, but he was disillusioned by the constant struggles between Ozawa and non-Ozawa factions in the party and left in 1996. He rejoined the LDP the following year.[8][10]
Ishiba was reappointed parliamentary vice minister of Agriculture under the Mori Cabinet in July 2000, but was switched to the position of deputy director general of the Defense Agency in December. He was replaced when the Koizumi Cabinet was appointed, but when Koizumi reshuffled the in September 2002 Ishiba became director general of the Defense Agency, entering the cabinet for the first time. He remained until September 2004.[9][10]
Ishiba was appointed as the Minister of Defense in the cabinet of Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on 26 September 2007,[11] serving in that post until 1 August 2008. Ishiba was the second person in the cabinet of Fukuda to express belief in the existence of UFOs after Nobutaka Machimura.[12] To that end he appeared on a Japanese TV program which featured dubbed extracts from the National Geographic Channel's Alien Invasion series in June 2012.
Following Fukuda's resignation, Ishiba stood as a candidate for the LDP presidency. In the leadership election, held on 22 September 2008, Tarō Asō won with 351 of the 527 votes; Ishiba placed fifth and last with 25 votes.[13] In Aso's Cabinet, appointed on 24 September 2008, Ishiba was named as Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.[14]
In 2012, while the LDP was still in opposition, Ishiba again stood for the presidency of the LDP and was narrowly defeated by Shinzō Abe. He accepted the position of secretary general on 27 September 2012.[15] Abe re-appointed him to the position after the December 2012 election in which the LDP returned to government.[16]
He attracted considerable criticism for his statement in November 2013 that likened peaceful public protests against the new secrecy bill being introduced by his government to "acts of counterterrorism".[17] He later withdrew the comment.[18]
In the September 2014 cabinet reshuffle, Abe moved Ishiba from his position as LDP Secretary General and appointed him to a newly created office of Minister for Overcoming Population Decline and Vitalizing Local Economy. He was reported to have declined the offer of a cabinet post responsible for the government's upcoming security legislation.[19]
In spite of having been a vocal critic of factionalism in the LDP, Ishiba launched his own faction, the Suigetsukai, on 28 September 2015, with the aim of succeeding sitting prime minister, Shinzo Abe. However, with 19 members, excluding Ishiba, it was one member short of the 20 votes required for nomination for LDP leadership.[20]
Ishiba left cabinet in the April 2016 reshuffle, having declined the ministry of Agriculture.[21] Ishiba challenged Abe in the 2018 LDP presidential election.[9]
In 2020, following Shinzo Abe's resignation, Ishiba ran for the leadership of the Liberal Democratic Party, losing to Yoshihide Suga, placing third overall.[22] Ishiba declined to run in the 2021 Liberal Democratic Party leadership election, instead endorsing Taro Kono.[23] He ran and won in the 2024 Liberal Democratic Party (Japan) presidential election.[24]
Political positions
[edit]Social views
[edit]Ishiba has pronounced himself in favor of allowing married couples to have separate surnames and legalizing same-sex marriage.[25][26]
Foreign policy
[edit]During the 2013 North Korean crisis, Ishiba stated that Japan had the right to deliver a preemptive strike against North Korea.[27]
Military affairs
[edit]Ishiba is known as a "gunji otaku" (military geek) and has a keen interest in military matters. He is known for having a lot of expertise related to weapons systems, legal issues about defense and is also fond of building and painting models of aircraft and ships.[28]
Ishiba has repeatedly stated that he believes that Japan needs its own equivalent of the United States Marine Corps to be able to defend its many small islands, in 2010 when he was policy chief for the LDP in opposition,[29] and as secretary-general of the party in March 2013 after the LDP regained government.[30]
In 2011, Ishiba backed the idea of Japan maintaining the capability of building nuclear weapons:
I don't think Japan needs to possess nuclear weapons, but it's important to maintain our commercial reactors because it would allow us to produce a nuclear warhead in a short amount of time ... It's a tacit nuclear deterrent.[31]
In 2017, Ishiba reiterated that Japan should have the capability to build nuclear weapons, stating that "Japan should have the technology to build a nuclear weapon if it wants to do so".[32]
Personal life
[edit]Ishiba is a Protestant Christian. He was baptised at the age of 18 in the Tottori Church of the United Church of Christ in Japan. In recent years he has attended the Evangelical CBMC's National Prayer Breakfast. He also visits the Buddhist graves of his ancestors and worships at the shinto shrine.
Ishiba is known as a fan of military vehicles, trains and Japanese idols. He made headlines when he allowed a Japan Self-Defence Forces' vehicle to be displayed at the Shizuoka Hobby Show, a trade fair for plastic and radio-controlled models. When the Russian Defence Minister visited Japan, he stayed up all night assembling a plastic model of the "Admiral Kuznetsov".[citation needed]
Electoral record
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
LDP | Shigeru Ishiba | 105,441 | 84.1 | 0.5 | |
JCP | Masakazu Okada | 19,985 | 15.9 | 0.5 | |
Turnout | 56.10 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democratic (Komeito) |
Shigeru Ishiba | 106,425 | 83.6 | −0.9 | |
Communist | Naruyuki Tsukada | 20,829 | 16.4 | +4.5 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democratic (Komeito) |
Shigeru Ishiba | 124,746 | 84.5 | ||
Communist | Naruyuki Tsukada | 17,550 | 11.9 | ||
Independent | Hiroshi Inoue | 5,325 | 3.6 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democratic (Komeito) |
Shigeru Ishiba | 118,121 | |||
Democratic (People's New) |
Yasuaki Okuda | 63,383 | |||
Communist | Naoyuki Iwanaga | 7,336 | |||
Happiness Realization | Yukihiro Hosokawa | 1,757 | |||
Turnout | 192,919 | 74.66 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democratic | Shigeru Ishiba | 106,805 | |||
Democratic | Shūsaku Hayakawa | 48,092 | |||
Social Democratic | Kiyoichi Tanaka | 14,271 | |||
Communist | Naruyuki Tsukada | 11,105 | |||
Turnout | 185,302 | 70.89 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democratic | Shigeru Ishiba | 114,283 | |||
Social Democratic | Kiyoichi Tanaka | 31,236 | |||
Communist | Iwao Suizu | 14,092 | |||
Turnout | 167,300 | 64.23 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democratic | Shigeru Ishiba | 91,163 | |||
Independent | Kōtarō Tamura | 62,811 | |||
Social Democratic | Fumiko Chikuma | 22,425 | |||
Communist | Naoyuki Iwanaga | 9,406 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Shigeru Ishiba | 94,147 | 56.59% | – | |
Social Democratic | Fumiko Chikuma | 28,496 | 17.13% | – | |
Communist | Naoyuki Iwanaga | 14,845 | 8.92% | – | |
New Socialist | Atushi Yamada | 13,221 | 7.94% | – | |
Turnout | 166,371 | 65.78% | – | ||
Registered electors | 252,920 | – | |||
Independent win (new seat) |
Gallery
[edit]-
Ishiba and United States Donald Rumsfeld, 15 November 2003.
-
Ishiba and United States Robert Gates, 8 November 2007.
References
[edit]- ^ Semans, Himari (24 September 2024). "Why is Shigeru Ishiba so unpopular among his LDP peers?".
- ^ a b Tokugawa, Iehiro (24 April 2014). "政権与党のNo.2に聞く「自民党幹事長の本音」--石破茂氏(自民党幹事長)×徳川家広氏(政治経済評論家)". Keizaikai. Archived from the original on 22 June 2014. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
- ^ Harefa, Surya (2023). A Free Church in a Free State: The Possibilities of Abraham Kuyper’s Ecclesiology for Japanese Evangelical Christians. Carlisle: Langham Publishing. pp. 57–58. ISBN 9781839738883.
- ^ a b "Jirō Ishiba". Kotobank (in Japanese). Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- ^ Saika, Nobuyuki (9 September 2020). "【自民党総裁選】菅氏、岸田氏、石破氏3人のキリスト教との関わり - クリプレ". Christian Press (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 23 September 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
- ^ a b "農林水産総括政務次官. 石破 茂 プロフィール". Prime Minister's Office of Japan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 4 March 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
- ^ Kobayashi, Yoshiya (17 May 2019). "「ワシが葬儀委員長だ」 石破茂氏を参らせた父親の田中派葬". zakzak. Sankei Digital. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
- ^ a b Ueda, Mao, ed. (3 March 2018). "ブレない、群れない、政治家・石破茂の人生". News Picks. Uzabase. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
- ^ a b c Yoshida, Reiji (27 August 2018). "The man standing between Abe and his ambitions: Who is Shigeru Ishiba?". The Japan Times. Tokyo. Archived from the original on 16 November 2021.
- ^ a b "国会議員情報:石破 茂". Jiji.com (in Japanese). Jiji Press Ltd. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
- ^ "Fukuda Cabinet launched / Changes minimized to reduce impact on Diet business". Yomiuri Shimbun'. 26 September 2007. Archived from the original on 2 March 2008.
- ^ "Japan's defense minister braces for aliens". inquirer.net. 20 December 2007. Archived from the original on 26 August 2010.
- ^ "Aso elected LDP head"". Yomiuri Shimbun. 22 September 2008. Archived from the original on 25 September 2008.
- ^ "Aso elected premier / Announces Cabinet lineup himself; poll likely on Nov. 2". Yomiuri Shimbun. 25 September 2008. Archived from the original on 28 September 2008.
- ^ "Ishiba to be LDP's new secretary general". The Japan Times. 28 September 2012. Archived from the original on 13 November 2012.
- ^ "Japan's Abe Appoints Ex-Rival as His No. 2". The Wall Street Journal. 28 September 2012. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016.
- ^ "Ishiba to be LDP's new secretary general". The Japan Times. 1 December 2013. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015.
- ^ "Ishiba softens criticism of bill protesters". The Japan Times. 2 December 2013. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013.
- ^ "Abe keeps core intact in Cabinet shake-up". The Japan Times. 3 September 2014. Archived from the original on 4 September 2014. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
- ^ "Senior LDP member Ishiba forms faction, aiming to succeed Abe". Nikkei Asian Review. 28 September 2015. Archived from the original on 8 October 2015.
- ^ 鹿吉, 大基 (3 October 2016). "安倍内閣に反旗を翻した石破茂、「次の総理」を目指す覚悟を決めた". President Online. President Inc. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
- ^ "Yoshihide Suga wins landslide in Japanese leadership contest". Financial Times. 14 September 2020. Archived from the original on 15 September 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
- ^ "LDP's Shigeru Ishiba formally throws support behind PM contender Taro Kono". The Japan Times. 15 September 2021. Archived from the original on 15 September 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
- ^ "Japan's scandal-hit ruling party picks next PM". BBC News. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
- ^ "石破茂氏、同性婚制度を検討 「不利益なら救済すべき". Nikkei. 11 September 2024.
- ^ 別姓同性婚、菅氏「慎重」 総裁選候補、賛否分かれる Kyodo News 2020年9月12日
- ^ "Japan Claims Right to Preemptive Strike on N.Korea". The Chosun Ilbo. Archived from the original on 18 April 2013.
- ^ "'Military geek' Ishiba returns to friendly territory". The Japan Times. 27 September 2007. Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
- ^ "Japan needs own marines: LDP's Ishiba". The Japan Times. 25 May 2010. Archived from the original on 16 November 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
- ^ "Ishiba urges creation of 'goddamn' Japanese marine corps". The Japan Times. 26 March 2013. Archived from the original on 28 March 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
- ^ Chester Dawson (28 October 2011). "In Japan, Provocative Case for Staying Nuclear". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 25 October 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
- ^ "Japan should be able to build nuclear weapons: ex-LDP Secretary-General Ishiba". The Japan Times. 6 November 2017. ISSN 0447-5763. Archived from the original on 6 November 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
- ^ 小選挙区開票速報:大阪 (in Japanese). NHK. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
- ^ "鳥取県" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 22 October 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
- ^ 総選挙2012>開票結果 小選挙区 鳥取. Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved 15 May 2013.
- ^ 衆議院>第45回衆議院議員選挙>鳥取県>鳥取1区. ザ・選挙 (in Japanese). JANJAN. Archived from the original on 11 July 2009. Retrieved 14 February 2011.
- ^ 衆議院>第44回衆議院議員選挙>鳥取県>鳥取1区. ザ・選挙 (in Japanese). JANJAN. Archived from the original on 28 April 2008. Retrieved 14 February 2011.
- ^ 衆議院>第43回衆議院議員選挙>鳥取県>鳥取1区. ザ・選挙 (in Japanese). JANJAN. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2011.
- ^ 衆議院>第42回衆議院議員選挙>鳥取県>鳥取1区. ザ・選挙 (in Japanese). JANJAN. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2011.
- ^ 衆議院>第41回衆議院議員選挙>鳥取県>鳥取1区. ザ・選挙 (in Japanese). JANJAN. Archived from the original on 21 October 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2011.
External links
[edit]- 石破茂 Official Site (in Japanese)
- 石破茂-アゴラ
- 石破茂(いしばしげる)ブログ
- Shigeru Ishiba on Twitter
- 石破 茂 on Facebook
- Shigeru Ishiba on Instagram
- イシバチャンネル's channel on YouTube
- 1957 births
- Living people
- Politicians from Tottori Prefecture
- Defense ministers of Japan
- Ministers of agriculture, forestry and fisheries of Japan
- Members of the House of Representatives (Japan)
- Members of the United Church of Christ in Japan
- Liberal Democratic Party (Japan) politicians
- Members of Nippon Kaigi
- Keio University alumni
- 21st-century Japanese politicians
- Keio Senior High School alumni