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TOKYO: Former Japanese prime ministers Shinzo Abe and Taro Aso were among political heavyweights who turned up at ex-finance minister Shoichi Nakagawa’s home to pay their respects just hours after his death was reported.
Nakagawa was found dead lying face down at his home in Tokyo's residential district of Setagaya early Sunday, and reports said an initial autopsy turned out inconclusive.
The 56-year-old is said to have had cardiovascular abnormalities and alcohol in his body, but the cause of death could not be determined.
Ex-prime ministers Abe and Aso voiced shock and grief over Nakagawa's death, saying the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has lost an important person essential to rebuild conservative values.
Said Abe: "When I last talked with him on the phone, he sounded fine and told me, 'Let's do whatever we can to revive the country's conservative values."
"I was shocked," said Aso. "He was the go-to guy in efforts to rebuild conservative values. The loss is a huge blow to the LDP as well."
Nakagawa served as Farm Minister, Minister of Economy, Industry and Trade, before taking over the finance portfolio.
He was appointed to the post of finance minister in Aso's government, launched in September last year, but was seen to have dealt a major blow to the Aso Cabinet.
In February, he appeared drunk at a news conference to wrap up a G7 meeting of finance ministers and central bankers in Rome.
He claimed his behaviour was the result of medication, but rumours of his intoxication cost him his post.
In the August general election, the LDP lost to the Democrats and, for the first time, became Japan's second largest party.
Nakagawa, who ran for his constituency in Hokkaido, lost his seat in the lower house after winning it the last eight times.
When the news of his death first broke, many thought he had committed suicide. Many were reminded of the suicide of his father Ichiro, a man of great charisma who was also a political heavyweight and a former agriculture minister.
However, police said there was no sign of foul play in Nakagawa's death. He was believed to have taken sleeping pills, and died when his organs failed.
- CNA/yb
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