Akinori Eto (江渡 聡徳, Eto Akinori, born 1955) is a Japanese politician and the former defense minister of Japan.

Akinori Eto
江渡 聡徳
Eto in 2013
Minister of Defense
In office
3 September 2014 – 24 December 2014
Prime MinisterShinzo Abe
Preceded byItsunori Onodera
Succeeded byGen Nakatani
Member of the House of Representatives
Assumed office
9 November 2003
Preceded byShingo Mimura
ConstituencyAomori 2nd (2003–2017)
Tohoku PR (2017–2021)
Aomori 1st (2021–present)
In office
20 October 1996 – 25 June 2000
Preceded byConstituency established
Succeeded byShingo Mimura
ConstituencyAomori 2nd
Personal details
Born (1955-10-12) 12 October 1955 (age 69)
Towada, Aomori, Japan
Political partyLiberal Democratic
Alma materNihon University
WebsiteOfficial website

Overview

edit
 
Eto with Ashton Carter (March 17, 2013)

Eto is a politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Towada, Aomori, he attended Nihon University as both undergraduate and graduate. He was elected for the first time in 1996 but lost his seat in the re-election four years later. He was re-elected in 2003.

Eto was a short lived Minister of Defense starting from September, when he was appointed to his position due to a cabinet reshuffle but ending in December 2014. He declined continuing his post after the 2014 snap election due to being embroiled in a political funding scandal, where he and two other cabinet members was accused by opposition parties of alleged influence peddling, improper donations and/or issues in reporting on political funds. Eto denied the accusations.[1][2] Analysts say his handling of questions relating to the scandal was considered too weak and was a major reason for Abe to replace him with Gen Nakatani, who is seen as a stronger figure.[3]

Like Abe and most members of the Cabinet, he is affiliated with the openly revisionist organization Nippon Kaigi.[4]

Footnotes

edit
  1. ^ "Japan PM's woes may not end despite resignations of two ministers". Reuters. 2014-10-21. Retrieved 2021-10-10.
  2. ^ "Shinzo Abe re-elected as Japan's prime minister". BBC News. 2014-12-24. Retrieved 2021-10-10.
  3. ^ "Japan parliament re-elects Abe as prime minister". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2021-10-10.
  4. ^ "Abe’s reshuffle promotes right-wingers" (Korea Joongang Daily - 2014/09/05)

References

edit
edit
Political offices
Preceded by State Minister of Defense
2007–2008
Succeeded by
Preceded by State Minister of Defense
2012–2013
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister of Defense
2014
Succeeded by
House of Representatives (Japan)
Preceded by Chair, Lower House Committee on Security
2013–2014
Succeeded by