Keizo Takemi, 71, the new health minister appointed in this week’s Cabinet reshuffle, is known for being well-versed in medical policies, but critics are worried that he may be too close to the industry.
Takemi is the son of Taro Takemi (1904-1983), a prominent physician who was dubbed “Emperor Takemi” due to the enormous and often dictatorial power he wielded over health care policy as president of the Japan Medical Association (JMA) from 1957 through 1982.
The JMA, which is mostly made up of doctors in private practice and now counts 175,000 members, is a powerful political lobby that has backed candidates from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in past elections, including Keizo Takemi.