Sadakazu Tanigaki

nihongo|Sadakazu Tanigaki|谷垣 禎一|Tanigaki Sadakazu|extra=born March 7, 1945 is a Japanese politician who served as Minister of Finance in the cabinet of Junichiro Koizumi. He is currently Minister of Construction and Transport and is serving his ninth term as a member of the Lower House, representing Kyoto's Fifth District.

Early life

Tanigaki was born in Fukuchiyama and attended Azabu High School. He graduated from the Faculty of Law at the University of Tokyo in 1974, and worked as a secretary for his father, who was Minister of Education. He went on to pass the Japanese bar examination in 1979, specializing in tax law, and he registered as an attorney in 1982 after completing his legal training. ["Japan Times", "Fukuda's new lineup", August 3, 2008.]

Political career

Tanigaki was prepared for a legal career after close to ten years of study, but his father, who represented the second district in Kyoto, died in 1983. Tanigaki moved to Kyoto to run for his father's seat.

He briefly headed the Science and Technology Agency in 1997. Under Prime Minister Koizumi, he served in a number of positions, including the Financial Reconstruction Commission, the National Public Safety Commission, and ultimately as Minister of Finance from September 22, 2003 to September 26, 2006. Since 2002, Tanigaki has led a minor faction in the Liberal Democratic Party, formerly part of the "Kochikai" faction, with 11 members in the lower house and 4 in the upper house.

Tanigaki declared his candidacy for the LDP presidency on July 28, 2006, but came in third place in a three-way race against Shinzo Abe and Tarō Asō. Tanigaki was viewed as the "moderate" candidate in the race, mainly due to his foreign policy views: unlike Abe and Asō, he stated that he would not continue visits to Yasukuni Shrine if he became prime minister, which made him a more attractive candidate among LDP leaders who sought better relations with China and Korea.

On September 24, 2007, Tanigaki was named chief policymaker of the LDP by newly-elected party president Yasuo Fukuda. [ [http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/20070924p2a00m0na008000c.html "Fukuda appoints Ibuki as secretary-general, Tanigaki as policy chief"] , "Mainichi Daily News", Sept 24, 2007.] He was subsequently appointed as Minister of Construction and Transport on August 1 2008. [ [http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20080802TDY01303.htm "Fukuda overhauls Cabinet / LDP executive shakeup also elevates Aso to party No. 2"] , "The Yomiuri Shimbun", August 2, 2008.]

Personality

Tanigaki sleeps early and arises early. He engages in stretching excercises and goes on long distance bicycle rides on the weekends to relieve stress. Tanigaki also enjoys mountain climbing and wine. ["Japan Times", "Fukuda's new lineup", August 3, 2008.]

References

External links

* [http://www.tanigaki-s.net Sadakazu Tanigaki's official website]