Product Code Database
born 14 July 1953 is a Japanese politician who was Deputy Prime Minister of Japan from January to December 2012. A member of the House of Representatives of Japan, he was the President of the Democratic Party, and previously of the Democratic Party of Japan. He also served as Secretary-General of the DPJ three times. During the DPJ's period in government he was Foreign Minister of Japan. Hatoyama starts naming Cabinet minister candidates . Mainichi Shimbun. 5 September 2009.
In 2016, he remained as leader when the Democratic Party of Japan merged with the Japan Innovation Party to become the Democratic Party. New opposition party launched with merger of DPJ, smaller party March 27, 2016 The Nikkei Retrieved 10 May 2016
He became president of the DPJ on 18 May 2004, and led the DPJ to one of its largest electoral victories in history during the 2004 House of Councillors election. However, he resigned after his party suffered dramatic losses in the September 2005 general election. Koizumi Clinches Historic Election Victory . The Seoul Times. 11 September 2005.
Okada ran for the presidency in 2009 but lost to Yukio Hatoyama. Following the success of the DPJ in the 2009 general election, Hatoyama selected Okada to be the foreign minister.Nishikawa, Yoko; Sieg, Linda; Roddy, Michael (5 September 2009). Key facts about Okada, to be Japan foreign minister . Reuters.
Okada was regarded as a possible successor of Hatoyama when Hatoyama announced his resignation as Prime Minister and DPJ leader in June 2010, "Japan’s Premier Will Quit as Approval Plummets", by Martin Fackler, The New York Times, 1 June 2010. Retrieved 2 June 2010. but Okada gave his support to Finance Minister Naoto Kan, who quickly emerged as the likely successor to Hatoyama. Ichirō Ozawa, however, whose resignation had also been reported announced by Hatoyama, was still supporting another less well known possible successor, Shinji Tarutoko, 50, a legislator who leads the environmental policy committee in the lower house of Parliament, a day before the DPJ leadership elections. "Finance Chief Favored as Next Japanese Leader" , by Martin Fackler, The New York Times, 3 June 2010. Retrieved 3 June 2010. After being selected as the new prime minister, Kan reaffirmed Okada as foreign minister. Japan Times, "Cabinet Profiles: Kan's lineup", 9 June 2010, p. 4.
As foreign minister, Okada was one of the chief participants in negotiations with the United States (US) over the relocation of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma on Okinawa. The Foreign Ministry under Okada also confirmed the existence of a long-rumored secret pact between Japan and US which had allowed the US military to carry nuclear weapons into Japanese territory in contravention of the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan. The previous administration under the LDP had denied that such a pact existed.
In a September 2010 cabinet reshuffle, Okada was moved from foreign minister to secretary general of the DPJ. Okada, who is viewed as an intraparty ally of Prime Minister Naoto Kan, is believed to have been given the role of secretary general in order to secure Kan's influence in the governing party, as well as to help force the passage of government bills in parliament.
Okada ran in the DPJ leadership election held in January 2015 after former president Banri Kaieda resigned after losing his seat. Okada won and returned as DPJ leader after a period of nine years.
In 2015, there were allegations made against Okada, saying that he had accepted 240,000 yen ($2,000) in donations from Nisshin Seifun Group Inc. in 2011 and 2012.
In 2016, he remained as leader when the Democratic Party of Japan merged with the Japan Innovation Party to become the Democratic Party. Following the party's defeat at the House of Councillors election in July, he announced that he would not seek re-election as leader at the party's annual meeting in September.
In 2022, Okada was appointed to be the secretary general of the CDP, replacing Chinami Nishimura. Okada currently holds the secretary general position to this day.
He was many times interviewed by Sekai Nippo, the official newspaper of the Unification Church, an anti-communism new religion. He does not support marriage equality.
|
|
