Jinen Nagase

1.1. Birth and Education

Jinen Nagase was born on October 3, 1943, in Uozu, Toyama Prefecture, Japan. His family relocated to Toyama City when he began elementary school due to his father's work. He attended Toyama City Yanagimachi Elementary School, Toyama University Faculty of Education Attached Junior High School, and Toyama Prefectural Toyama High School. Nagase went on to graduate from the University of Tokyo's Faculty of Law, Third Class (Political Science Course) in 1966, earning a Bachelor of Laws degree. During his time at the University of Tokyo, he successfully passed the National Civil Service Senior Grade A Examination (Law).

1.2. Early Public Service

In 1966, Nagase commenced his career in public service by joining the Ministry of Labour, which is now part of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. He steadily advanced within the ministry, serving as the Director of the Labor Policy Bureau, Labor Law Division, by June 1986. During his time in the ministry, his contemporaries included Shohei Ito, who would later become a Vice Minister of Labour, and Yoshie Ota, who would become the first female Director-General of the Labor Ministry's Women's Bureau. Nagase resigned from his position at the Ministry of Labour in 1988, signaling his impending transition into direct political life.

1.3. Political Career

Nagase entered the political arena in 1990, successfully running as a candidate endorsed by the Liberal Democratic Party in the 39th Japanese general election, where he was elected to the House of Representatives from the old Toyama 1st district. He secured the third-highest number of votes in that election. Nagase went on to win seven consecutive elections, serving continuously in the Diet until 2012. In the 1996 41st general election, with the establishment of the new Toyama 1st district, he successfully contested and won the seat against Tatsushi Hirono, a candidate from the New Frontier Party. In March 2012, Nagase announced his intention to retire from politics and did not run in the 46th general election.

1.4. Major Public Offices

Throughout his political career, Nagase held numerous significant ministerial and sub-ministerial positions. He served as the Parliamentary Vice Minister of Health and Welfare in the Murayama reshuffled cabinet in 1995. Following this, he was appointed Parliamentary Vice Minister of Labour under the Obuchi and first Mori cabinets. In the second Mori reshuffled cabinet, he assumed the role of Senior Vice Minister of Justice, which, with the central government reorganization, transitioned him to become the first Vice Minister of Justice under then-Justice Minister Masahiko Kōmura.

In 2002, he served as the Chief Director of the House of Representatives Committee on Health, Labour and Welfare. By 2004, he became the first Vice-Chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party's Policy Research Council. In 2005, he was appointed Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary in the third Koizumi reshuffled cabinet. His career culminated on September 26, 2006, when he was appointed Minister of Justice in Shinzo Abe's first cabinet, marking his first cabinet post. After leaving the cabinet, he continued to serve as Director of the Party's Labor Policy Bureau and later as the Chairman of the LDP House of Representatives Members Association.

1.5. Retirement and Later Life

After a distinguished career, Jinen Nagase announced in March 2012 that he would not seek re-election in the upcoming 46th general election, effectively retiring from national politics. His contributions were recognized in November 2013 when he was awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun, one of Japan's highest honors. Furthermore, in November 2014, he was honored by his hometown and named an Honorary Citizen of Uozu City, Toyama Prefecture. Nagase also used his calligraphy skills, for instance, to write the inscription on a monument in Tateyama, at the Murodo Terminal Plaza, which commemorates a poem composed by Prince Akishino.

2.1. Death Penalty Executions

During his 336-day tenure as Minister of Justice, Jinen Nagase oversaw a significant number of death penalty executions, which at the time marked the highest number of executions carried out under a single justice minister. He commanded the execution of 10 death row inmates across three separate occasions:

• On December 25, 2006, four death row inmates were executed.
• On April 27, 2007, three death row inmates were executed in Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka detention centers.
• On August 23, 2007, three death row inmates were executed in Tokyo and Nagoya detention centers.

2.2. Conspiracy Law

As Minister of Justice in the first Abe Cabinet, Nagase was a strong advocate for the establishment of the controversial Conspiracy Law. In a press conference on January 23, 2007, he publicly expressed his eagerness, stating, "I want to see it enacted smoothly and early." His push for the law highlighted his commitment to expanding legal powers for combating organized crime and terrorism.

2.3. Juvenile Justice Reform

Nagase played a pivotal role in the reform of Japan's Juvenile Law and the enactment of the Rehabilitation Aid Law. His efforts were largely aimed at introducing stricter penalties for juvenile offenses. Key reforms included lowering the minimum age for referral to juvenile training schools from "14 years or older" to "approximately 12 years or older." Additionally, he worked to explicitly codify the authority of police officers to conduct voluntary investigations when they suspect a minor has committed a crime. This legislative work reflected his belief in greater accountability for young offenders.

2.4. Views on Post-War Regime

Upon his appointment as Minister of Justice, Jinen Nagase openly articulated his long-held belief that "after 60 years since the war, it is necessary to correct the trend of economic priority and individual priority." He strongly advocated for the drafting of an independent constitution rather than merely amending the existing post-war Constitution of Japan. His most notable statement on this stance came during a study session for the parliamentary group "Sosei 'Nippon'" on May 10, 2012. He openly expressed his opposition to the Liberal Democratic Party's own draft constitution, arguing that it still adhered to the "post-war regime" imposed by MacArthur. He controversially declared, "National sovereignty, basic human rights, and pacifism-these three things date to the postwar regime imposed by MacArthur on Japan. Therefore, we have to get rid of them to make the constitution our own!" This statement underscored his desire for a more self-reliant constitutional framework that he believed would truly reflect Japan's sovereignty.

2.5. Foreign Worker Treatment

Recognizing the issues within Japan's foreign trainee and technical intern training system, such as poor working conditions and low wages, Jinen Nagase took an active role in advocating for improvements. As the chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party's National Strategy Headquarters' Foreign Worker Issues Project Team, he put forth a proposal for the creation of a "Short-Term Foreign Worker Employment System." This initiative was aimed at addressing the systemic problems faced by foreign workers and enhancing their welfare and working conditions in Japan.

2.6. Other Policy Stances

Jinen Nagase maintained consistent positions on several other significant social and policy issues, aligning with a generally conservative viewpoint:

• He was a vocal opponent of introducing an optional separate surname system for married couples.
• He also opposed the Human Rights Protection Bill, a proposed legislation aimed at establishing a comprehensive human rights protection framework.
• Furthermore, Nagase was against granting local suffrage to permanent foreign residents in Japan.

3.1. Political Affiliations and Role

Jinen Nagase was a prominent member of the Machimura faction (now the Seiwa Seisaku Kenkyūkai) within the Liberal Democratic Party. He played a crucial role in supporting Shinzō Abe during Abe's tenure as Chief Cabinet Secretary, becoming a central figure in the "Group to Support Shinzo Abe" (安倍晋三さんを支える会_{Abe Shinzō-san o Sasaeru Kai}^Japanese). In this capacity, Nagase was actively involved in developing the policy vision and public platform for the first Abe cabinet. From 2000 to 2012, he served as the Chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party Toyama Prefectural Federation of Branches, further solidifying his influence within the party at both national and regional levels.

3.2. Achievements and Contributions

Nagase dedicated considerable effort to several policy areas, leaving a notable impact on Japanese legislation. He was instrumental in formulating the outline for healthcare system reform and developing countermeasures against the declining birthrate. He also played a key coordinating role as the chairman of the party's subcommittee for the introduction of the Lay Judge System. Nagase possessed deep knowledge of social security policy, especially concerning pension issues.

His legislative accomplishments also include contributing to the promotion of the Hokuriku Shinkansen high-speed rail line and the establishment of defined contribution pension schemes. He was involved in the enactment of various bills related to pensions, medical care, and long-term care. Nagase was also a proponent of establishing "Showa Day" as a national holiday. Furthermore, he was a key figure in the creation of the "Causing Death or Injury Through Negligent Driving" crime under the revised Criminal Code and was central to the enactment of the revised Juvenile Law, which lowered the minimum age for referral to juvenile training schools. His influence was also significant in the realm of employment policy.

3.3. Religious Affiliation and Associations

Jinen Nagase's religious affiliation was Tenrikyo. Beyond his political roles, he held leadership positions in significant conservative and religious organizations. He served as the Chairman of the Toyama chapter of Nippon Kaigi, a prominent conservative organization in Japan, and was also a Special Advisor to the Toyama Prefectural Gokoku Shrine. These affiliations underscore his connection to traditional Japanese values and nationalistic movements.

3.4. Family Background

Jinen Nagase comes from a family with deep roots in public service and politics in Toyama Prefecture. His family connections include:

• His paternal grandfather, Jirōshirō Nagase, who served as a former village mayor of Uenokata Village, now part of Uozu City.
• His father, Jinshō Nagase, was a former member of the Uozu City Council.
• His mother, Toyo, was the daughter of Hisayasu Shikuma.
• His maternal grandfather, Hisayasu Shikuma, was an agriculturist and politician who served as a former Chairman of the Toyama Prefectural Assembly.
• His maternal uncle, Yasumasa Shikuma, was a former member of the House of Councillors.
• His cousin, Shōichi Shikuma, is currently a member of the Toyama Prefectural Assembly.

4.1. National Pension Non-Payment

In 2004, Jinen Nagase was implicated in a wider scandal concerning unpaid national pension contributions among politicians. It was revealed that he had a period of five months during which he had not paid his national pension contributions, leading to public debate and scrutiny over the adherence of public figures to social security obligations.

4.2. Irregularities in Political Funding Reports

On February 20, 2007, a Yomiuri Shimbun investigation exposed irregularities in Jinen Nagase's campaign finance report for the 2005 Japanese general election. The report inaccurately stated that his campaign's income and expenditure were perfectly balanced. This was problematic because campaign finance reports are supposed to include public subsidies for campaign activities as expenditures, which would typically result in expenditures exceeding income. Nagase's office claimed that the treasurer responsible for the report had forgotten to account for the public subsidy and had adjusted the reported donations from the Liberal Democratic Party branch to artificially balance the figures. Following the media's inquiry, both his campaign finance report and the Liberal Democratic Party branch's political funding report were corrected. The treasurer reportedly stated that they had mistakenly believed the income and expenditure amounts had to match and had forgotten about the public subsidy.

4.3. Unregistered Property Issue

On June 14, 2007, it was reported that Jinen Nagase's family home in Uozu City, Toyama Prefecture, remained unregistered despite legal requirements under the Real Property Registration Act. This issue had first been brought to his attention in 1995 when he was serving as Parliamentary Vice Minister of Health. At that time, Nagase had stated that he would register the property if its unregistered status was considered "socially inappropriate." However, the property had remained unregistered for over a decade since the initial advisory, drawing renewed criticism regarding his compliance with legal and ethical standards for public officials.

4.4. Quid Pro Quo Donations for Visa Inquiries

On August 7, 2007, allegations surfaced concerning a potential quid pro quo arrangement involving Jinen Nagase's office and a foreign trainee acceptance organization named "Fushin International Business Cooperative." Nagase had served as an advisor to this cooperative, a position he resigned from after the issue became public. It was reported that his office had made inquiries with the Immigration Bureau at the Ministry of Justice regarding the status of visa issuance for trainees associated with the cooperative. Subsequently, the cooperative allegedly made a donation of 500.00 K JPY to Nagase's side. Critics raised concerns that this donation was given in exchange for his office's intervention or assistance with visa-related matters, suggesting an improper influence of money in political and administrative processes.

4.5. Ties to Unification Church

Jinen Nagase was criticized for his connections to the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, commonly known as the Unification Church, or its affiliated organizations. In May 2006, the Universal Peace Federation (UPF), an organization founded by Sun Myung Moon of the Unification Church, hosted "Ancestral Homeland Restoration Japan Conventions" in 12 locations across Japan, often combined with mass weddings. Nagase sent a congratulatory telegram to the convention held in Nagoya, drawing scrutiny over his association with the controversial religious group.

6.1. Solo Works

• Silver Human Resources Center (Romu Gyosei Kenkyusho)
• Toward a Rich Worker's Life (Kindai Rodo Keizai Kenkyukai)
• Until Defined Contribution Pensions Were Born (Romu Gyosei Kenkyusho, 2000)
• Overview of the New Food Sanitation Law (Romu Gyosei Kenkyusho, 2003)
• Jin'en's Interesting Booklets (Nagase Jin'en Chojutsushu Kankokai, 2014)

6.2. Co-authored Works

• Labor Unions, Be Strong (Nihon Leaders Kyokai, 2000)
• Q&A: Commercial Code Amendment Accompanying Treasury Stock Liberalization, etc. (Shoji Homu Kenkyukai, 2001)