ID :
193114
Wed, 07/06/2011 - 06:09
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/193114
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Hirano Picked as Japan's Disaster Reconstruction Minister
Tokyo, July 5 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan named Tatsuo Hirano, senior vice minister of the Cabinet Office, as minister for postdisaster reconstruction on Tuesday.
The move came after Ryu Matsumoto, who became Japan's first postdisaster reconstruction minister on June 27, resigned earlier in the day after making controversial remarks during a visit Sunday to northeastern areas of the country badly hit by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
Hirano, 57, took over from Matsumoto as disaster management minister as well.
He assumed the new posts after an attestation ceremony held at the Imperial Palace in the night. Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi, a House of Representatives lawmaker from the ruling Democratic Party of Japan, became new Cabine Office vice minister.
Hirano is a House of Councillors lawmaker from the DPJ elected twice from Iwate Prefecture, one of the three prefectures that were worst affected by the disaster. He belongs to an intraparty group led by former DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa.
After accepting Kan's offer for the cabinet post, Hirano told reporters that he wants to foster an environment for jump starting reconstruction work by listening to opinions in afflicted areas.
Initially, Kan asked Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku to become postdisaster reconstruction minister. But Sengoku turned down the request.
Opposition parties are demanding that Kan take responsibility for choosing Matsumoto in the first place by resigning as soon as possible.
Nobuteru Ishihara, secretary-general of the Liberal Democratic Party, and other key lawmakers in the opposition bloc are ready for grilling Kan in resumed deliberations Wednesday at the House of Representatives Budget Committee.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said at a press conference Tuesday that Hirano is the right man for the cabinet portfolio in terms of job continuity as well as knowledge and ability.
He ruled out the possibility of Kan's immediate resignation, saying the prime minister has tasks to get done right now.
Meanwhile, LDP President Sadakazu Tanigaki said at a party meeting that Matsumoto's resignation is a signal that morale in Kan's cabinet is ebbing and, therefore, all cabinet members should resign.
The move came after Ryu Matsumoto, who became Japan's first postdisaster reconstruction minister on June 27, resigned earlier in the day after making controversial remarks during a visit Sunday to northeastern areas of the country badly hit by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
Hirano, 57, took over from Matsumoto as disaster management minister as well.
He assumed the new posts after an attestation ceremony held at the Imperial Palace in the night. Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi, a House of Representatives lawmaker from the ruling Democratic Party of Japan, became new Cabine Office vice minister.
Hirano is a House of Councillors lawmaker from the DPJ elected twice from Iwate Prefecture, one of the three prefectures that were worst affected by the disaster. He belongs to an intraparty group led by former DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa.
After accepting Kan's offer for the cabinet post, Hirano told reporters that he wants to foster an environment for jump starting reconstruction work by listening to opinions in afflicted areas.
Initially, Kan asked Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku to become postdisaster reconstruction minister. But Sengoku turned down the request.
Opposition parties are demanding that Kan take responsibility for choosing Matsumoto in the first place by resigning as soon as possible.
Nobuteru Ishihara, secretary-general of the Liberal Democratic Party, and other key lawmakers in the opposition bloc are ready for grilling Kan in resumed deliberations Wednesday at the House of Representatives Budget Committee.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said at a press conference Tuesday that Hirano is the right man for the cabinet portfolio in terms of job continuity as well as knowledge and ability.
He ruled out the possibility of Kan's immediate resignation, saying the prime minister has tasks to get done right now.
Meanwhile, LDP President Sadakazu Tanigaki said at a party meeting that Matsumoto's resignation is a signal that morale in Kan's cabinet is ebbing and, therefore, all cabinet members should resign.
