Ryu Matsumoto (松本 龍, Matsumoto Ryū, May 17, 1951 – July 21, 2018) was a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Fukuoka, Fukuoka and graduate of Chuo University, he was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 1990 as a member of the Japan Socialist Party. He followed in the steps of his grandfather Jiichirō Matsumoto and father in command of the Buraku Liberation League. He was vice-chairman Buraku Liberation League when he advocated suppression of free speech.[1]

He resigned from the post of the Minister of Reconstruction and vice-chairman of the Buraku Liberation League after making harsh and abrasive criticism of the two governors from the area affected by the Great East Japan earthquake as well as threatening to ruin the career of any journalists who reported his remarks. He later apologised and then blamed his behaviour on his Fukuoka background and also on his B-blood type, a popular superstition in Japan.[2]

He criticized Matsumoto's intimidation that "Your company is over if you publicize my remarks" as the essence of the liberation alliance. [3][4] He died of lung cancer on July 21, 2018, at the age of 67.[5]

References

  1. ^ Japan Times 2010/06/08 Archived 2011-06-23 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ "Japan Reconstruction Minister Ryu Matsumoto quits". BBC News. 2011-07-05. Retrieved 2011-07-09.
  3. ^ "Japan Times 2010/06/08". Archived from the original on 2011-06-23. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
  4. ^ 2011年7月5日 Jcastニュース 共産党・小池前参院議員「松本大臣発言は部落解放同盟の地金」
  5. ^ 松本龍さん６７歳＝元民主党衆院議員、元復興担当相, Mainichi Shimbun.

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Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Environment
2010–2011 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister of State for Disaster Management
2010–2011 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Representative for Fukuoka's 1st district (multi-member)
1990–1996
Served alongside: Taku Yamasaki, Hirotarō Yamasaki, Takenori Kanzaki, Seiichi Ōta, Yanosuke Narazaki 		District eliminated
New district Representative for Fukuoka's 1st district
1996–2018 		Vacant