Former Japanese Minister of Finance Shoichi Nakagawa was found dead by his wife found dead in his Setagaya home by his wife at about 8:15 a.m on Sunday, October 4, 2009 at age 56.
The Kyodo reports that Nakagawa’s 50-year-old wife came home at around 9 p.m. on Saturday. She saw him sleeping with his upper body leaning against the bed, his face down, but did not sense anything was wrong. She didn’t notice whether at that time Nakagawa is just sleeping or already dead.
Nakagawa is considered as one of Japan’s most influential political figures. He is conservative politician in the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), who served as Minister of Finance from September 24, 2008 to February 17, 2009. He had been known for his extremely heavy drinking.
No suicide note found but rumors said that he committed suicide because of his political problems. He is usually drunk before hosting political speech that’s why other people and opposition parties calls for his resignation and on February 2009 he quitted his job as Finance Minister. Tokyo police said that suicide is unlikely. Foul play has been ruled out as well. Tokyo police believed that it may be related to heavy prescription, sleeping medication he was taking but in order to know the real cause of his death they will conduct an autopsy.
Former political allies expressed their sadness at Mr Nakagawa’s death. Former Japanese Prime Minister, Taro Aso was speechless after hearing the news while his successor as Finance Minister, Hirohisa Fuji, expresses his deepest condolences.
“I want to express my heartfelt condolences. He was doing a fine job as a finance minister, so it is regrettable.”
Hirohisa Fujii, current Japanese Finance Minister
PHOTO CREDIT : Xinhua / Reuters Photo
Topics: Finance Minister, Hirohisa Fuji, Japan, news, Shoichi Nakagawa, Taro Aso
