Japan appoints Naoshima as de facto energy minister

Japan’s new Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama appointed Masayuki Naoshima as the minister of economy, trade and industry (METI). Naoshima was the Democatic Party of Japan’s policy chief, who was first elected in the upper house as a member of the now-defunct Democratic Socialist Party in 1992, following his engagement in labor union activities in the automobile industry after joining a Toyota Motor Corp. sales unit in 1971. It was not immediately clear what would be Naoshima’s priorities over energy policy and diplomacy. However, he will likely be tested as to whether he can win support from local power and energy industries over Hatoyama’s reiterated commitment to move forward his campaign pledge to seek larger cuts in the country’s greenhouse gas emissions, despite strong opposition from business leaders. (September 16, 2009)