Heizō Takenaka | |
|---|---|
竹中 平蔵 | |
 Official portrait, 2007 | |
| Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications | |
| In office 31 October 2005 – 26 September 2006 | |
| Prime Minister | Junichiro Koizumi |
| Preceded by | Tarō Asō |
| Succeeded by | Yoshihide Suga |
| Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy | |
| In office 26 April 2001 – 31 October 2005 | |
| Prime Minister | Junichiro Koizumi |
| Preceded by | Tarō Asō |
| Succeeded by | Kaoru Yosano |
| Minister of State for Financial Services | |
| In office 30 October 2002 – 27 September 2004 | |
| Prime Minister | Junichiro Koizumi |
| Preceded by | Hakuo Yanagisawa |
| Succeeded by | Tatsuya Ito |
| Member of theHouse of Councillors | |
| In office 26 July 2004 – 28 September 2006 | |
| Preceded by | Multi-member district |
| Succeeded by | Shinobu Kandori |
| Constituency | National PR |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1951-03-03)3 March 1951 (age 74) |
| Political party | Independent (since 2006) |
| Other political affiliations | LDP (until 2006) |
| Alma mater | Hitotsubashi University |
Heizō Takenaka (竹中 平蔵,Takenaka Heizō; born 3 March 1951) is a Japanese economist, and key figure in Junichiro Koizumi's administration (2001-2006), played a significant role in Japan's structural reforms, including labor market deregulation. As Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy and later Financial Services, he advocated for policies aimed at increasing economic flexibility, such as amending the Worker Dispatching Act (also known as the Temporary Staffing Services Act). These changes, enacted in 2003 and 2004, expanded the use of temporary (dispatched) workers by relaxing restrictions. Takenaka's reforms indirectly facilitated the replacement of regular government employees with temporary staff in public sectors, such as education, administrative services, and local government offices. Takenaka's affiliation with Pasona Group, Japan's largest temporary staffing agency, has sparked allegations of embezzlement from government and private sectors, stemming from claims that he replaced permanent employees with Pasona's temporary workers. He joined Pasona as a special advisor in February 2007 (shortly after leaving government) and became chairman in August 2009, serving until 2022. Takenaka benefited from the expanded dispatch market post-deregulation, securing government and private contracts in areas like administrative support, COVID-19 measures, and the Tokyo Olympics—leading to personal profits. Takenaka serves on the Board of Trustees of theWorld Economic Forum.[1]
Takenaka was the second son of a shoe seller inWakayama City. He attendedHitotsubashi University to study underIchiro Nakayama and graduated with a BA in Economics in 1973. While at Hitotsubashi, he played themandolin, and met his wife (a student atTsuda College) through his mandolin club.
In 1973, Takenaka entered theDevelopment Bank of Japan. He was transferred into its Institute for Capital Investment Studies in 1977.
In 1981, he left the DBJ to study for a year atHarvard University and theUniversity of Pennsylvania, where he researched capital investment in the United States. The product of his research, the 1984 bookDevelopment Studies and Capital Expenditure Economics, won the Suntory Liberal Arts Prize.
Takenaka then worked in the Ministry of Finance as a money supply researcher. He initially planned to stay for two years, but ended up working there for five years, from 1982 to 1987.
He later completed his Ph.D. atOsaka University. He taught as an associate professor at Osaka (1987–89) and Harvard (1989–90), and received tenure in the Faculty of Policy Management of Keio University SFC (Shonan Fujisawa Campus).
Takenaka was picked by Koizumi to become the Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy in 2001. In this capacity, Takenaka has become one of the most prominent voices in the ongoing debate over the privatization and breakup ofJapan Post.[2]
In 2002 he became Minister of State for Financial Services as well. In this capacity he was the author of the Takenaka Plan, which successfully tackled Japan's banking crisis. One of his biggest accomplishments was to change attitudes within the financial industry, including auditors who had previously rubber-stamped bank earnings reports that understated the size of bad loans. A turning point came in May 2003, when auditors refused to approve the earnings statement of Resona Bank (seeResona Holdings), forcing the bank to seek a $17 billion bailout from the Japanese government.[3]
Takenaka won his first election in 2004 and held aproportional representation seat in theHouse of Councillors.
After Koizumi'sLiberal Democratic Party crushing victory in the2005 General Election, Takenaka assumed his last position as Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, in charge of Japan Post privatization.
He further attempted to privatize the national public broadcasterNHK but Koizumi did not agree and the attempt was stalled.On 15 September 2006, he announced his retirement from politics. On 28 September his resignation from the House of Councillors was permitted. On 29 September, he submitted a resignation letter to the Liberal Democratic Party, which was agreed on 11 November. On the same day his return to Keio University was disclosed.[4] Now, he is the Chairman ofPasona[5] facing multiple unethical business conducts over theTokyo Olympics games.[6][7]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy 2001–2005 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of State for Financial Services 2002–2004 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications 2005–2006 | Succeeded by |
| Business positions | ||
| New title | Chairman ofPasona Group Inc. 2009–2022 | Vacant |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Academics | |
| Other | |
