Akagi to be new Japanese agriculture minister
Norihiko Akagi will be Japans new agriculture minister, prime minister Shinzo Abe announced.
Akagi, formerly a deputy defense agency chief and agriculture ministry bureaucrat, will replace Toshikatsu Matsuoka, who recently hung himself.
A graduate of the University of Tokyo’s Law Faculty, Akagi belongs to the governing Liberal Democratic Party’s faction led by former foreign minister Masahiko Komura.
A graduate of the University of Tokyo’s Law Faculty, Akagi belongs to the governing Liberal Democratic Party’s faction led by former foreign minister Masahiko Komura.
Akagi is a grandson of Munenori Akagi, who has served as agriculture and forestry minister six times since 1957.
Illicit donations
His predecessor Matsuoka had been accused of receiving illicit political donations from contractors with a government-affiliated organisation.
Matsuoka killed himself only hours before he was to face further questioning.
