Junichiro Koizumi

The Koizumi government sent the Self-Defence Forces to Iraq for reconstruction and support missions, one of Japan's most significant military deployments since 1945. The decision prompted intense debate about the pacifist Constitution and alignment with the US-led war. In 2008, after Koizumi had left office, the Nagoya High Court held that certain air transport missions to Baghdad formed part of armed activities contrary to Article 9.

State of the evidence

Government policy and constitutional litigation documented

Legal status — source text

In 2008, the Nagoya High Court found that some air operations in Iraq violated Article 9 while dismissing the claimants' applications; no criminal conviction

Attribution

Political responsibility as the Prime Minister who initiated the deployment

Koizumi repeatedly visited Yasukuni Shrine during his tenure, including on 15 August 2006. The visits provoked repeated protests from China and South Korea because Class A war criminals are among those honoured there, and fuelled litigation concerning the separation of religion and state.

State of the evidence

Visits and international protests documented

Legal status — source text

Several civil cases; mixed outcomes, without criminal conviction

Attribution

Direct personal responsibility as Prime Minister

After the Upper House rejected his postal privatisation proposal, Koizumi dissolved the Lower House and turned the 2005 election into a personal referendum on the reform. The LDP refused to endorse rebel lawmakers and fielded high-profile candidates nicknamed "assassins" against several of them. Critics denounced an authoritarian purge and the reduction of the election to a single issue.

State of the evidence

Political decisions and major controversy documented

Legal status — source text

No legal proceedings

Attribution

Direct political responsibility as Prime Minister and LDP president

In May 2004, amid a widespread scandal concerning politicians' contributions, Koizumi acknowledged having failed to pay certain pension contributions for nearly seven years in total. The opposition also questioned whether his employment at a family property company in the early 1970s had been genuine, as that position had enabled him to be covered by the employees' pension scheme.

State of the evidence

Periods of non-payment acknowledged; allegation of nominal employment not judicially established

Legal status — source text

No criminal offence established; several periods were not subject to compulsory enrolment

Attribution

Personal responsibility for his own social security declarations; disputed allegation of fictitious employment

At his second summit in Pyongyang in May 2004, Koizumi secured the return to Japan of five family members of former abductees but did not obtain information considered satisfactory about other missing persons. Family associations strongly criticised the outcome and Japan's promise of 250 000 tonnes of food aid as well as medicines, considering that Tokyo had offered too much in exchange for insufficient progress.

State of the evidence

Agreements and families' reactions documented

Legal status — source text

No legal proceedings

Attribution

Direct political responsibility as Prime Minister