Akagi to be new Japanese agriculture minister

Akagi, formerly a deputy defense agency chief and agriculture ministry bureaucrat, will replace Toshikatsu Matsuoka, who hanged himself in the beginning of this week.


A graduate of the University of Tokyo’s Law Faculty, Akagi belongs to the governing Liberal Democratic Party’s faction led by former foreign minister Masahiko Komura.

Akagi is a grandson of Munenori Akagi, who has served as agriculture and forestry minister six times since 1957.


Illicit donations
His predecessor Matsuoka had been accused of receiving illicit political donations from contractors with a government-affiliated organisation.


Matsuoka killed himself only hours before he was to face further questioning.


Related websites:
• University of Tokyo
• Japanese Liberal Democrat Party


For the latest pig news, subscribe here