Shin Kanemaru

Shin Kanemaru (金丸 信 Kanemaru Shin), 17 September 1914 – 28 March 1996) was a Japanese politician who was a significant figure in the political arena of Japan from the 1970s to the early 1990s.[1] He was also Director General of the Japan Defense Agency from 1977 to 1978.

Shin Kanemaru
金丸 信
Director-General of the Japan Defense Agency
In office 28 November 1977 – 7 December 1978
Prime Minister	Takeo Fukuda
Preceded by	Asao Mihara
Succeeded by	Ganri Yamashita
Personal details
Born	17 September 1914 Suwa, Yamanashi Prefecture, Empire of Japan
Died	28 March 1996 (aged 81) Yamanashi, Japan
Political party	Liberal Democratic Party
Alma mater	Tokyo University of Agriculture
Military service
Allegiance	Japan
Branch/service	Imperial Japanese Army
Years of service	1938
Rank	Sergeant
Unit	2nd Company, Telegraph Triple Corps, Kwantung Army

Early life and education

Kanemaru was born in Suwa village (now Minami-arupusu city), Yamanashi Prefecture on 17 September 1914.[2] He began his studies at the Tokyo University of Agriculture and became a teacher upon graduation.

Career

He was conscripted into the army and served briefly in the Kwantung Army as a sergeant from 1937 to 1938 and discharged shortly due to illness and returned to Japan.[3] Post military service he entered into the sake brewing business and later involved in concrete and souvenir businesses.[3] He was a member of the Liberal Democratic Party and member of the faction of Noboru Takeshita.

Arrest and indictment

In 1992, he was indicted in the Sagawa Kyubin corruption scandal. He was charged with evading taxes on payments he had received from construction companies that were seeking political influence. He resigned and was arrested on 13 March 1993 after authorities found at least $51 million in bearer bonds and hundreds of pounds of gold stored at his home.[4]

Personal life

His has a son, Shingo Kanemaru.[5] Kanemaru died in Yamanashi on 28 March 1996 at the age of 81.[2]

References

1. Uldis Kruze (January 2015). Shin Kanemaru and the Tragedy of Japan's Political System. Palgrave Pivot. ISBN 9781137457363. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
2. "Shin Kanemaru". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
3. https://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/29/world/shin-kanemaru-81-kingmaker-in-japan-toppled-by-corruption.html
4. John E. Woodruff (10 March 1993). "Fallen politician in Japan had amassed $51 million". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
5. "Japanese delegation arrives in N. Korea". Yonhap News Agency. September 14, 2019. Archived from the original on September 14, 2019.

Sources

• William H. Cooper, Japan-U.S. Trade: The Construction Services Issue, U.S. Congressional Research Service: Report for Congress 93-957, November 4, 1993.