Former agriculture minister Yoshiyuki Kamei died of pancreatic cancer Friday at a Tokyo hospital, his office said. He was 70.

Kamei, a Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker, served as the agriculture, forestry and fisheries minister from April 2003 to September 2004.

He won a Lower House seat in 1979 representing the Kanagawa No. 16 constituency and held it until his death, except for a period between December 1983 and July 1986 when he was defeated in an election, the office said.

He also served in a number of senior positions within the LDP.

Kyodo News