Japan's minister of agriculture kills himself??

leonmarino · 28 May 2007

I just saw this on the news.

BBC.co.uk
CNN.com
Asahi.com

In short, the minister of agriculture, Toshikatsu Matsuoka was found dead just hours before he was going to be questioned by the parliament about some dubious expenditures he made for his office. Until this day he had refused to disclose any information about it.

Apparently, the PM Shinzo Abe had supported this minister until now. Meanwhile, the public's support for Abe's government has fallen by 12% to 41% since last month, according to CNN. This sad incident will not improve the credibility of Abe and his men either.

According to other sources I read, a last message has been found. I wonder what is in the letter. Also, he had apparently already apologised to the chairman of his party, the Liberal Democrats, last weekend. What drove him to commit suicide? It will be interesting to see how this will impact Japan's politics from now on.

Ewok85 · 28 May 2007

From the sound of things it was nothing but the usual book-fudging and fund redirection. Cooking the books and skimming the cream off the top is a well documented phenomenon in politics here.

KirinMan · 28 May 2007

. Meanwhile, the public's support for Abe's government has fallen by 12% to 41% since last month, according to CNN.

FYI this is from the CNN report.

Support for Abe's Cabinet fell to 32 percent, down 11 percentage points from a similar poll in April, a survey by the national newspaper Mainichi, taken over the weekend, showed Monday.

The government's disapproval rating rose to 44 percent, up from 33 percent, the Mainichi said. A separate poll by the Nikkei business daily showed Abe's popularity falling to 41 percent, down 12 percentage points from the previous month. His disapproval rating rose to 44 percent from 37 percent.

Either way it doesnt bode well for him or his party in the upcoming elections.

bakaKanadajin · 28 May 2007

This is great, I like the example this guy is setting. If the corrupt politicians would kill themselves in Canada too we might eventually elect a government that actually works for the people.

shiroma · 29 May 2007

Hm ministry of agriculture/forestry/fisheries? Reminds of what happened to Ichiro Nakagawa at Sapporo Park Hotel on Jan. 9th 1983 then.

SushiShin · 29 May 2007

crazy people are those politicians i always said, and now they pay it with their own lives!! what a shame!! well i can't say this is good because maybe he was a good man, but for his crime what he did: corruption well i think he deserved to die!!

-Gambatte ne!

Arlet · 29 May 2007

Nobody deserves to die Herbal...
Not even a bad person...
I think its sad, i wonder why he commited suicide.
I hope no others will follow ☝

EmperorHirohito · 29 May 2007

This news story does make you think of one question above all :- "How many Politicans have got something to hide?"
The answer I think you will find is "Quite a few!"
Another thing that comes to my mind after reading this story is a very famous saying, and that is "Power corrupts, but absolute power corrupts absolutly"

It is upsetting to know that someone took their own life, but you must ask yourself this, what would have happened if they hadn't? Is disgracing yourself or a political party or even your nation something that they would want to do, knowing that if events are investigated and politicans are found to done something wrong, that with our modern news gathering service, it could be all around this planet we live on in less than 24 hours.

I wonder if this tragic event was to be repeated in other countries around the world in the next few weeks, how many politicans with something to hide, would take their own lives?

I think the numbers could be high, worst luck. And I hope it does not happen.

Goldiegirl · 29 May 2007

Isn't suicide more acceptable to Japanese? I asked my husband and he said that it is better than to disgrace your family. I just think it's sad all the way around. It's terrible that he was stealing and it's just as sad that he couldn't admit his guilt, take his punishment and then move on. I wonder if the stigma would've stuck with him for the rest of his life? Would anyone have been able to forgive him (of course showing that he was truly sorry and would never steal again) or was there no hope of that happening so he killed himself?:?

highlight · 29 May 2007

You can only imagine what he must have done over time to make suicide not only an option but his way out.

Goldiegirl · 29 May 2007

He was not right to steal, but I can not judge what's in is heart. It's sad when you killing yourself is the only way out. Why does he deserve an "out" option? He should have admitted his crimes and taken his punishment. Was it simply because he would never be forgiven?

SushiShin · 29 May 2007

in the old days seppuku was a good choice but now in the 21st century:? nope i dont think so!!
It was a shame that he didn't wanna face for what he did!
But then again: Yeah money makes everything? no??

KirinMan · 29 May 2007

Goldiegirl said:
Isn't suicide more acceptable to Japanese? I asked my husband and he said that it is better than to disgrace your family. I just think it's sad all the way around. It's terrible that he was stealing and it's just as sad that he couldn't admit his guilt, take his punishment and then move on. I wonder if the stigma would've stuck with him for the rest of his life? Would anyone have been able to forgive him (of course showing that he was truly sorry and would never steal again) or was there no hope of that happening so he killed himself?:?

I talked about this with my family last night as they saw the news report as well, the consensus opinion was that what he did was unforgiveable, particularly for the disgrace and stigma he put on his family.

We agreed that sometimes it is understandable why kids do it, not agreeing with it of course, but because of inexperience in life in general that kids see it as their only way out. This guy was a member of the cabinet for cripes sake he knew what he was doing and it only came across, to us at least, as a cop out.

Death happens as we all know and I personally feel more sympathy for his family and what they must be going through, particularly because this was totally preventable. I pray that his family can find peace.

Goldiegirl · 29 May 2007

Obeika said:
This guy was a member of the cabinet for cripes sake he knew what he was doing and it only came across, to us at least, as a cop out.
Death happens as we all know and I personally feel more sympathy for his family and what they must be going through, particularly because this was totally preventable. I pray that his family can find peace.

I agree. I feel sorry for his family as well. Would it have been better had he stood up and admitted what he did was wrong for his families sake?

Japan's minister of agriculture kills himself??

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