11 Facts About Keishu Tanaka

Keishu Tanaka was a Japanese politician, who served in the House of Representatives in the Diet as a member of the Democratic Party.

Keishu Tanaka was Minister of Justice under Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda from 1 to 23 October 2012 before resigning due to scandals over financial donations and links to organized crime.

Keishu Tanaka was elected for the first time in 1983.

Keishu Tanaka became Minister for the Abduction Issue succeeding Jin Matsubara.

On 4 October 2012, Keishu Tanaka said that a local branch of the DPJ he heads in Kanagawa prefecture had received 420,000 yen in donations from 2006 to 2009 from a company run by Taiwanese.

On 11 October 2012, the weekly magazine Shukan Shincho reported that 30 years ago Keishu Tanaka had connections to a group affiliated to the Inagawa-kai yakuza syndicate, that he had made an appearance and made a speech at a party hosted by a yakuza boss, and that he had acted as a matchmaker for an executive member of the group.

Keishu Tanaka said that he would not have taken the actions if he had been aware of the yakuza connections.

Keishu Tanaka denied using yakuza to pursue his own interests or to mediate their disputes.

Keishu Tanaka was checked into Tokai University Tokyo Hospital complaining of chest pains.

Keishu Tanaka resigned on 23 October 2012, citing health reasons.

Keishu Tanaka was succeeded by Makoto Taki, who had been his predecessor in the role.