Obuchi Cabinet

The Obuchi Cabinet governed Japan from July 1998 to April 2000 under the leadership of Prime Minister Keizō Obuchi, who took office after winning the Liberal Democratic Party leadership.^[1] Initially a continued LDP single-party government without legislative majority in parliament on its own after the 1998 election, it expanded to become a coalition involving first the Liberal Party and then the New Komeito over the course of its term. The government focused on economic revival, with former Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa recalled to the position of Finance Minister, and introduced policies designed to stimulate the economy through tax cuts and public spending increases.^[2][3]

Obuchi Cabinet
84th Cabinet of Japan
Prime Minister Keizō Obuchi (front row, centre) with the newly-elected cabinet inside the Kantei, July 30, 1998
Date formed	July 30, 1998
Date dissolved	January 14, 1999
People and organisations
Emperor	Akihito
Prime Minister	Keizō Obuchi Acting: Mikio Aoki (April 3 – April 5, 2000)
Member party	LDP (1998-99) LDP-LP (1999) LDP-LP-NKP (1999-2000) LDP-NCP-NKP (2000)
Status in legislature	HR majority, HC minority government (Twisted Diet) (1998-99) Majority coalition (1999-2000)
Opposition party	Democratic Party of Japan
Opposition leader	Naoto Kan (until September 25, 1999) Yukio Hatoyama (from September 25, 1999)
History
Predecessor	Second Hashimoto Cabinet (Reshuffle)
Successor	Obuchi Cabinet (First Reshuffle)

Obuchi reshuffled his cabinet twice, firstly in January 1999 after having negotiated a coalition agreement with the Liberal Party. This did not bring about any major change in personnel other than to bring Liberal Takeshi Noda into government as Home Minister, and reduce the number of ministers by doubling up portfolios.^[4] The second reshuffle in October 1999 was a more substantial reconstruction, and took place following Obuchi's re-election as LDP president. At the same time, the coalition expanded again to include the New Komeito, beginning the long-running LDP-NKP partnership.^[5] The coalition continued until April 2000 when Liberal Leader Ichirō Ozawa decided to withdraw from the arrangement, causing a section of the Liberal Party to break away and form the New Conservative Party, which remained in the government.^[6]

The Obuchi cabinet ended in early April 2000 when Obuchi fell into a coma after suffering a serious, and ultimately fatal stroke. With the Prime Minister unable to discharge his duties, Chief Cabinet Secretary Mikio Aoki served as Acting Prime Minister for several days, until the cabinet determined to resign and Yoshirō Mori was chosen to replace Obuchi.^[7][8][9]

Election of the prime minister

Obuchi's election demonstrated how the Diet was divided following the 1998 upper house election. In the House of Representatives, Obuchi was elected on the first ballot, however the first ballot in the House of Councillors did not produce a majority for any candidate. In the subsequent runoff vote, opposition leader Naoto Kan won with the support of all opposition parties allied against the LDP. This did not affect Obuchi's appointment as Prime Minister, as the constitution stipulates that in such a scenario, the will of the lower house prevails.^[10]

30 July 1998

House of Representatives Absolute majority (251/500) required
Choice		First Vote
		Votes
	YKeizō Obuchi	268 / 500
	Naoto Kan	164 / 500
	Others and Abstentions (Including Speaker and Deputy)	68 / 500
Source Diet Minutes - 143rd Session (Representatives)

30 July 1998

House of Councillors Absolute majority (127/252) required
Choice		First Vote
		Votes
	Keizō Obuchi	103 / 252
	Naoto Kan	98 / 252
	Others and Abstentions (Including Speaker and Deputy)	51 / 252
Source Diet Minutes - 143rd Session (Councillors)

30 July 1998

House of Councillors Simple majority required
Choice		Runoff Vote
		Votes
	Naoto Kan	142 / 252
	YKeizō Obuchi	103 / 252
	Others and Abstentions (Including Speaker and Deputy)	7 / 252
Source Diet Minutes - 143rd Session (Both houses)

Ministers

  Liberal Democratic
  Liberal (1998)
  New Komeito
  Independent
R = Member of the House of Representatives
C = Member of the House of Councillors

Cabinet

Cabinet of Keizō Obuchi from July 30, 1998, to January 14, 1999

Portfolio	Minister			Term of Office
Prime Minister		Keizō Obuchi	R	July 30, 1998 - April 5, 2000
Minister of Justice		Shozaburo Nakamura	R	July 30, 1998 - March 8, 1999
Minister of Foreign Affairs		Masahiko Kōmura	R	July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999
Minister of Finance		Kiichi Miyazawa	R	July 30, 1998 - April 26, 2001
Minister of Education		Akito Arima	C	July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999
Minister of Health and Welfare		Sohei Miyashita	R	July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries		Shōichi Nakagawa	R	July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999
Minister of International Trade and Industry		Kaoru Yosano	R	July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999
Minister of Transport		Jirō Kawasaki	R	July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999
Minister of Posts and Telecommunications		Seiko Noda	R	July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999
Minister of Labour		Akira Amari	R	July 30, 1998 - January 14, 1999
Minister of Construction		Katsutsugu Sekiya	R	July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999
Minister of Home Affairs Director of the National Public Safety Commission		Mamoru Nishida	R	July 30, 1998 - January 14, 1999
Chief Cabinet Secretary		Hiromu Nonaka	R	July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999
Director of the Management and Coordination Agency		Seiichi Ota	R	July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999
Director of the Hokkaido Development Agency Director of the Okinawa Development Agency		Kichio Inoue	C	July 30, 1998 - January 14, 1999
Director of the Japan Defense Agency		Fukushiro Nukaga	R	July 30, 1998 - November 21, 1998
		Hosei Norota	R	November 21, 1998 - October 5, 1999
Director of the Economic Planning Agency		Taichi Sakaiya	-	July 30, 1998 - December 5, 2000
Director of the Science and Technology Agency		Yutaka Takeyama	C	July 30, 1998 - January 14, 1999
Director of the Environment Agency		Kenji Manabe	C	July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999
Director of the National Land Agency		Hakuo Yanagisawa	R	July 30, 1998 - October 23, 1998
		Kichio Inoue	C	October 23, 1998 - January 14, 1999
Minister of State for Financial Reconstruction		Hakuo Yanagisawa	R	October 23, 1998 - December 15, 1998
Chairman of the Financial Reconstruction Commission				December 15, 1998 - October 5, 1999
Deputy Secretaries
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary (Political Affairs - House of Representatives)		Muneo Suzuki	R	July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary (Political Affairs - House of Councillors)		Mitsuhiro Uesugi	C	July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary (Bureaucrat)		Teijiro Furukawa	-	February 24, 1995 - September 22, 2003

Changes

• October 23 - Hakuo Yanagisawa the Director of the National Land Agency was moved to become the Minister of State for Financial Reconstruction (which later became the Chairman of the Financial Reconstruction Commission) and was replaced with Yoshio Inoue, who doubled up as Hokkaido and Okinawa development minister.
• November 21 - Fukushiro Nukaga resigned as Defence Minister due to a corruption scandal, he was replaced with Hosei Norota.^[11]

First reshuffled cabinet

Obuchi Cabinet (First Reshuffle)
84th Cabinet of Japan
Prime Minister Keizō Obuchi (front row, centre) with his reshuffled cabinet inside the Kantei, January 14, 1999
Date formed	January 14, 1999
Date dissolved	October 5, 1999
People and organisations
Emperor	Akihito
Prime Minister	Keizō Obuchi Acting: Mikio Aoki (April 3 – April 5, 2000)
Member party	LDP (1998-99) LDP-LP (1999) LDP-LP-NKP (1999-2000) LDP-NCP-NKP (2000)
Status in legislature	HR majority, HC minority government (Twisted Diet) (1998-99) Majority coalition (1999-2000)
Opposition party	Democratic Party of Japan
Opposition leader	Naoto Kan (until September 25, 1999) Yukio Hatoyama (from September 25, 1999)
History
Predecessor	Obuchi Cabinet
Successor	Obuchi Cabinet (Second Reshuffle)

Cabinet of Keizō Obuchi from January 14, 1999, to October 5, 1999

Portfolio	Minister			Term of Office
Prime Minister		Keizō Obuchi	R	July 30, 1998 - April 5, 2000
Minister of Justice		Shozaburo Nakamura	R	July 30, 1998 - March 8, 1999
		Takao Jinnouchi	C	March 8, 1999 - October 5, 1999
Minister of Foreign Affairs		Masahiko Kōmura	R	July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999
Minister of Finance		Kiichi Miyazawa	R	July 30, 1998 - April 26, 2001
Minister of Education Director of the Science and Technology Agency		Akito Arima	C	July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999
Minister of Health and Welfare		Sohei Miyashita	R	July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries		Shōichi Nakagawa	R	July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999
Minister of International Trade and Industry		Kaoru Yosano	R	July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999
Minister of Transport Director of the Hokkaido Development Agency		Jirō Kawasaki	R	July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999
Minister of Posts and Telecommunications		Seiko Noda	R	July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999
Minister of Labour		Akira Amari	R	July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999
Minister of Construction Director of the National Land Agency		Katsutsugu Sekiya	R	July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999
Minister of Home Affairs Director of the National Public Safety Commission		Takeshi Noda	R	January 14, 1999 - October 5, 1999
Chief Cabinet Secretary Director of the Okinawa Development Agency		Hiromu Nonaka	R	July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999
Director of the Management and Coordination Agency		Seiichi Ota	R	July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999
Director of the Japan Defense Agency		Hosei Norota	R	November 21, 1998 - October 5, 1999
Director of the Economic Planning Agency		Taichi Sakaiya	-	July 30, 1998 - December 5, 2000
Director of the Environment Agency		Kenji Manabe	C	July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999
Chairman of the Financial Reconstruction Commission		Hakuo Yanagisawa	R	December 15, 1998 - October 5, 1999
Deputy Secretaries
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary (Political Affairs - House of Representatives)		Muneo Suzuki	R	July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary (Political Affairs - House of Councillors)		Mitsuhiro Uesugi	C	July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary (Bureaucrat)		Teijiro Furukawa	-	February 24, 1995 - September 22, 2003

Changes

• March 8, 1999 - Minister of Justice Shozaburo Nakamura resigned over a controversy relating to actor Arnold Schwarzenegger being allowed to enter Japan without a passport, and was replaced by Takao Jinnouchi.^[12]

Second reshuffled cabinet

Obuchi Cabinet (Second Reshuffle)
84th Cabinet of Japan
Prime Minister Keizō Obuchi (front row, centre) with his reshuffled cabinet inside the Kantei, October 5, 1999
Date formed	October 5, 1999
Date dissolved	April 5, 2000
People and organisations
Emperor	Akihito
Prime Minister	Keizō Obuchi Acting: Mikio Aoki (April 3 – April 5, 2000)
Member party	LDP (1998-99) LDP-LP (1999) LDP-LP-NKP (1999-2000) LDP-NCP-NKP (2000)
Status in legislature	HR majority, HC minority government (Twisted Diet) (1998-99) Majority coalition (1999-2000)
Opposition party	Democratic Party of Japan
Opposition leader	Naoto Kan (until September 25, 1999) Yukio Hatoyama (from September 25, 1999)
History
Predecessor	Obuchi Cabinet (First Reshuffle)
Successor	First Mori Cabinet

Cabinet of Keizō Obuchi from October 5, 1999, to April 5, 2000

Portfolio	Minister			Term of Office
Prime Minister		Keizō Obuchi	R	July 30, 1998 - April 5, 2000
Minister of Justice		Hideo Usui	R	October 5, 1999 - July 4, 2000
Minister of Foreign Affairs		Yōhei Kōno	R	October 5, 1999 - April 26, 2001
Minister of Finance		Kiichi Miyazawa	R	July 30, 1998 - April 26, 2001
Minister of Education Director of the Science and Technology Agency		Hirofumi Nakasone	C	October 5, 1999 - July 4, 2000
Minister of Health and Welfare		Yuya Niwa	R	October 5, 1999 - July 4, 2000
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries		Tokuichiro Tamazawa	R	October 5, 1999 - July 4, 2000
Minister of International Trade and Industry		Takashi Fukaya	R	October 5, 1999 - July 4, 2000
Minister of Transport Director of the Hokkaido Development Agency		Toshihiro Nikai	R	October 5, 1999 - July 4, 2000
Minister of Posts and Telecommunications		Eita Yashiro	R	October 5, 1999 - July 4, 2000
Minister of Labour		Takamori Makino	R	October 5, 1999 - July 4, 2000
Minister of Construction Director of the National Land Agency		Masaaki Nakayama	R	October 5, 1999 - July 4, 2000
Minister of Home Affairs Director of the National Public Safety Commission		Kosuke Hori	R	October 5, 1999 - July 4, 2000
Chief Cabinet Secretary Director of the Okinawa Development Agency		Mikio Aoki	C	October 5, 1999 - July 4, 2000
Chairman of the Financial Reconstruction Commission		Michio Ochi	R	October 5, 1999 - February 25, 2000
		Sadakazu Tanigaki	R	February 25, 2000 - July 4, 2000
Director of the Management and Coordination Agency		Kunihiro Tsuzuki	C	October 5, 1999 - December 5, 2000
Director of the Japan Defense Agency		Tsutomu Kawara	R	October 5, 1999 - July 4, 2000
Director of the Economic Planning Agency		Taichi Sakaiya	-	July 30, 1998 - December 5, 2000
Director of the Environment Agency		Kayoko Shimizu	C	October 5, 1999 - July 4, 2000
Deputy Secretaries
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary (Political Affairs - House of Representatives)		Fukushiro Nukaga	R	October 5, 1999 - July 4, 2000
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary (Political Affairs - House of Councillors)		Soichiro Matsutani	C	October 5, 1999 - July 4, 2000
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary (Bureaucrat)		Teijiro Furukawa	-	February 24, 1995 - September 22, 2003

Changes

• February 25, 2000 - Chairman of the Financial Reconstruction Commission Michio Ochi resigned following controversial comments he made related to regulation and inspection of banks. He was replaced by Sadakazu Tanigaki.^[13]
• April 1, 2000 - Coalition negotiations between the Liberal Party and the LDP broke down leading to the party pulling out of the coalition. This caused a split, with some Liberals wishing to remain in government.^[14]
• April 2, 2000 - Prime Minister Obuchi suffered a debilitating stroke and fell into a coma. Chief Cabinet Secretary Mikio Aoki assumed his duties as Acting Prime Minister until April 5 when LDP Secretary-general Yoshiro Mori was appointed as replacement Prime Minister.^[15] Obuchi died on May 14.^[16]
• April 3, 2000 - The dissident Liberals launched the New Conservative Party under the leadership of Chikage Oogi, and remained in government under that banner, including Transport Minister Toshihiro Nikai.^[17]

References

1. "Obuchi's top 20". BBC News. 30 July 1998. Archived from the original on 28 February 2003. Retrieved 9 December 2016.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
2. "Obituary: Keizo Obuchi". BBC News. 14 May 2000. Archived from the original on 16 May 2016. Retrieved 9 December 2016.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
3. "Trends in Japan". OBUCHI NAMES CABINET. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 9 December 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
4. "Obuchi names new minister". Irish Times. 15 January 1999. Archived from the original on 9 December 2016. Retrieved 9 December 2016.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
5. "Trends in Japan". OBUCHI LAUNCHES NEW CABINET. Archived from the original on 29 September 2014. Retrieved 9 December 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
6. Maeda, Toshi (17 June 2000). "Ogi's New Conservatives aim to lay Japan's 'moral ground'". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on 17 April 2014. Retrieved 9 December 2016.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
7. Efron, Sonni (3 April 2000). "Japan's Premier Suffers a Stroke; Deputy Steps In". LA Times. Archived from the original on 4 December 2015. Retrieved 9 December 2016.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
8. Schmetzer, Uli (4 April 2000). "Reins Of Government Shift In Japan". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 9 December 2016. Retrieved 9 December 2016.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
9. Reitman, Valerie (14 April 2000). "Obuchi Coma Exposes Japan's Succession Flaw". LA Times. Archived from the original on 9 December 2016. Retrieved 9 December 2016.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
10. Eur (2002). The Far East and Australasia 2003. Psychology Press. p. 588.
11. "Corruption Scandal Leads Defense Chief To Resign". Orlando Sentinel. 21 November 1998. Archived from the original on 9 December 2016. Retrieved 9 December 2016.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
12. "Japanese Minister Resigns". Associated Press. 8 March 1999. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 9 December 2016.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
13. "Bank watchdog forced to resign". BBC News. 25 February 2000. Archived from the original on 9 December 2016. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
14. Maeda, Toshi (17 June 2000). "Ogi's New Conservatives aim to lay Japan's 'moral ground'". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on 17 April 2014. Retrieved 9 December 2016.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
15. "Japanese PM falls into coma after stroke". The Independent. 2 April 2000. Archived from the original on 9 December 2016. Retrieved 9 December 2016.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
16. Sims, Calvin (15 May 2000). "Keizo Obuchi, Premier Who Brought Stability as Japan's Economy Faltered, Dies at 62". New York Times. Archived from the original on 19 November 2016. Retrieved 9 December 2016.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
17. Maeda, Toshi (17 June 2000). "Ogi's New Conservatives aim to lay Japan's 'moral ground'". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on 17 April 2014. Retrieved 9 December 2016.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)

External links

Lists of Ministers at the Kantei:

• Obuchi Cabinet (in Japanese)
• (First reshuffle) (in Japanese)
• (Second reshuffle) (in Japanese)