Farewell, Mr. Huangmen of Aizu, October 1st, 15:31
With Aizu-style humor, he speaks directly to the politics of the time.
Kozo Watanabe, who was nicknamed "Koumon-sama" for his personality.
On August 23, the curtain was closed on the life of 1988.
Formerly known as one of the "Takeshita-ha Nichijou", the Democratic Party of Japan has a wealth of political experience, and young leaders beg for guidance.
We reporters and politicians were brought up by him.
In mourning, let's talk about him now.
(Former reporter Tetsuya Suzuki, Hitoshi Hirouchi / Interviewer Takuya Miyazato, Emi Yonezu)
Reporter's textbook
"I just want to do it."
Whenever I remember Mr. Tsunezo, I always frowned in the room of the Members' Office Building, and that scene came to my mind.
At that time, the Democratic Party was shaking.
The Democratic Party is scrutinizing in parliament, saying that there is an e-mail indicating funding to the LDP's influential people.
However, the email turned out to be fake, and Yoshihiko Noda took responsibility and resigned as chairman of the National Assembly Countermeasures Committee.
However, the successor is not decided at all.
It was a word that came out in such a situation--
I was in charge of the Democratic Party for two years from the summer of 2004 and was interviewing Mr. Kozo.
However, at that time, Mr. Tsunezo was useless.
Rather than interviewing, I sometimes went to the room of the Members' Office Building to hear opinions about the political situation.
The more I went, the more I saw Mr. Kozo playing Go with his close friend, Mr. Emi, while watching the rebroadcast of the historical drama "Mito Komon".
I can't cover while playing Go, so I'll wait for it to finish in the room in front of me.
After a break, he beckoned me to come here and put me in the room.
I loved cigarettes like no other.
There were burnt marks on the rug on the sofa and desk.
I couldn't
help wondering
when the ashes would fall, and while holding a cigarette that had become a cinder between my fingers, he said,
"Suzuki-kun, that's not it,"
in the Aizu dialect, and told me what the political situation was like.
Seiji Maehara was appointed as the representative of the Democratic Party of Japan in September of the following year.
43 years old at that time.
There were many young executives who supported them.
Mr. Tsunezo's story, which was over 70 years old, had implications backed by his long political experience, and was the most important textbook for me as a political reporter.
Pick up chestnuts in the fire and make them "Koumon-sama"
One day, there was a ghost at the beginning.
Email problem in February 2006.
Noda resigned as chairman on February 28th.
However, it is difficult to decide on a successor.
Two days later, on March 2, representative Maehara and secretary-general Yukio Hatoyama stayed in the room of the main building of the House of Representatives and continued to consult with veteran lawmakers who had experience as chairman of the Diet measures.
However, everything was refused.
Everyone avoided picking up chestnuts in the fire.
What's the Democratic Party ... Wait in front of the room where endless discussions take place.
Maehara, who is behind the door, usually exchanged interviews by e-mail, so I tried to send it, but it seems that the story is not progressing.
Suddenly, Tsunezo-san's words came to my mind when I was holding my hand.
"I want to do it."
This may be ... I included in the email to Maehara that there was such an exchange with Mr. Tsunezo.
Mr. Kozo was useless in the Democratic Party, but he was a big veteran who also served as the vice-chairman of the House of Representatives and the chairman of the Diet measures during the Liberal Democratic Party.
If I serve as the chairman of the Democratic Party's parliamentary measures, I think the LDP's response to the parliament will have to change.
About 30 minutes later, Hatoyama, who had been discussing with Maehara, left the main building of the House of Representatives and went somewhere by car.
I came with a pin and immediately headed to Mr. Tsunezo's room in the Members' Office Building.
When I asked my secretary, "Mr. Hatoyama, are you coming?", I was surprised, "Why do you know?"
After that, Hatoyama came out of the room, glanced at my face, and quickly left.
From inside the room, there is a voice of Mr. Tsunezo talking to someone on the phone.
After a while, when it became quiet, Mr. Tsunezo, who opened the door, found me and beckoned me into the room.
And, as a matter of fact, he said, "I decided to take the chairman of the Diet Countermeasures Committee. However, there are many things I don't understand, so I asked Tatsuo Kawabata and Hirofumi Hirano to serve as assistants."
"Can I write about that?"
"Yeah, good." I
immediately
wrote an
article and the news was broadcast on TV.
After that, Mr. Tsunezo was assigned to the Democratic Party's parliamentary measures chairperson's office.
Until then, no one had come to the interview, but when I was surrounded by a large number of reporters, the number of topics that were sent out all at once increased.
The appearance of Kawabata and Hirano standing aside as Kozo's assistant and acting chairman attracted a lot of attention when he was reminiscent of the drama Mito Komon.
Then, Mr. Tsunezo, who bought the inro, got into the support of the election and appeared at the party venue, sometimes with humor, and sometimes with a serious expression, he showed off "Koumon-sama" for the first time.
(Items up to this point, Suzuki)
"Sukesan Kakusan" is now
"I was told,'Yumi Kaoru isn't it!'" He
recalls, because he sometimes held an inro, so he played the role of Kaku-san?
Hirofumi Hirano is currently acting as the representative of the Constitutional Democratic Party.
"When the e-mail problem broke out and it was difficult, I was appointed as the chairman of the Diet Countermeasures Committee, saying,'If Mr. Kozo would manage to do it,' he said,'I can't do it alone. Two supporting characters. I put ", me and Kawabata (Tatsuo) 's two became chairman agency. so we are," the teacher this, I began to say I is either "not that assistant's and case's"
plain talk so In the photo he showed me, Watanabe dressed in a costume reminiscent of Mito Komon and Hirano smiling while showing his inro.
Hirano says that the atmosphere of the party at that time was "quite depressed and there was something harsh."
What kind of existence was Watanabe?
"I don't do much business. It's done by me and Mr. Kawabata. Mr. Tsunezo is just sitting on the signboard. Still, it was really effective. There was a personality that brightened the surroundings. Regardless of the ruling and opposition parties, there was a profound atmosphere like "If that person tells me, don't be shy."
Watanabe is known for being a big smoker.
Hirano talked about memories that made him feel the personality of Watabe, who has a little love, which would have been forgiven because of the past.
"At that time, there was a movement to quit smoking at the meeting of the National Assembly Countermeasures Committee, and he said,'If that's the case, Hirano-kun, do it with you guys.' I convinced him to say that. I was smoking. We were smoking too. It wouldn't be a job now. "
Hirano last met at Watanabe's birthday party last year.
It seems that "Tsunezo-san"'s commitment to tobacco has not changed throughout his life.
"I went to Fukushima with Mr. Kawabata when I was told to call Mr. Suke and Mr. Kaku. Mr. Tsunezo seemed to have been given permission to go out from the hospital for only one hour, but he was at the venue for almost two hours. "Hirano-kun, give me a cigarette." It seems that the doctor said it wasn't good, but he said "OK, give me a cigarette." I feel like I gave him Lark Mild. I'm a smoker. "
Like a "get up little boy"
What do the members of the Diet who received the scent of Watanabe think?
Seiji Maehara was forced into a difficult situation due to the "email problem" when he started as a representative of the Democratic Party.
After a difficult voyage, Watanabe recalls that he was saved by taking over as chairman of the National Assembly Countermeasures Committee.
"I'll support Maehara-kun if I'm okay," he was appointed as the chairman of the National Assembly Countermeasures Committee. He was a major minister of the Liberal Democratic Party, and he is more amazing than I think and is popular among the people. Mr. San accepted it by saying, "Supporting the young representative." On the other hand, that "Tohoku dialect" allowed everything, and he had a sense of humor that calmed people, and he was not dignified and friendly. I often learned from a different personality. ”The
Democratic Party was in an unprecedentedly difficult situation.
However, the atmosphere changed with the appointment of Watabe as chairman of the National Assembly Countermeasures Committee.
The bright and friendly personality, which does not hide the local Aizu dialect, gradually brightened the atmosphere inside the party and made us feel the expectation of recovery.
For Mr. Maehara, there are also bittersweet episodes.
It was when Watanabe, who became the chairman of the National Assembly Countermeasures Committee, encouraged Maehara.
Mr. Watanabe presented Aizu's specialty, a toy that can be raised even if it is knocked down, "Roly-poly toy", but for some reason this did not happen.
This scene, which could be said to symbolize the rigor of the Democratic Party, was broadcast on television over and over again.
Maehara looked back on those days.
"I remember being a little confused,'Isn't this really something that gets up? Or is it something that doesn't get up in the first place?'. That scene was shot perfectly on TV, and that was all. "Broadcast on TV,"
Maehara continued with a bitter smile.
"I will resign after that, but I wonder if it was a sign of ominous fortune-
telling." Where did that "spill that didn't get up" go?
When I asked that, Maehara showed me something.
"Remember that event, and three years ago, when I went to report when I was in the Democratic Party's representative election, as usual, I said,'This will definitely get up!'" He said, "Once again, do your best to realize the two-party system and the change of government." "It
's a bigger"
getting
up little boy "than the one who didn't get up at that time.
No matter how many times you defeat it, you will get up firmly.
Maehara's career as a politician has not been flat since the "email problem."
With the support of Watanabe, he realized a change of government and experienced ministers, but he fell in about three years.
He was appointed as the representative of the Democratic Party, but the party split over the confluence with the "Party of Hope" and was defeated in the lower house election.
The setbacks I faced many times.
Nevertheless, Maehara said that he would like to respond to Watabe's thoughts, which he has always looked at, regardless of whether it is good or bad.
"In my lifetime, Professor Tsunezo said,'I want to see the Maehara Cabinet,' but I couldn't do that because I died. I'm sorry, but I still want to play a central role in the administration. I haven't lost that feeling, and I want to do my best to make Mr. Tsunezo in heaven happy. "
Foreshadowing the birth of the Democratic Party of Japan
About a month after Watabe became chairman of the National Assembly Countermeasures Committee.
Maehara resigned as the representative on March 31, and the representative election will be held.
It was Ichiro Ozawa and Naoto Kan who announced their candidacy.
There was widespread concern that the party would split as the two collide head-on.
Meanwhile, on April 4, the secretary general, Hatoyama, will hold a "Sakura wo Miru Kai" at Hatoyama Hall.
The movement of Democratic Party executives was drawing attention before the election including the party split.
Some commercial broadcasters were planning to broadcast.
About two hours before the meeting began, I visited Mr. Tsunezo's room to hear his findings about the party's internal affairs.
Suddenly, I said, "There are a lot of TV cameras coming, so why don't Tsunezo take the hands of Mr. Ozawa and Mr. Suga and shake hands saying,'I'm not resentful even if I hold an election.'" I tried to say.
Then Tsunezo suddenly changed his face and told the secretary to call a car.
Then, when I got into the car by myself, I headed for Hatoyama Hall even though it was still early to open.
No, it's fast, the reaction.
When I went to the venue late, Mr. Tsunezo seemed uncomfortable and was checking the faces of the attendees who appeared one after another.
The first person to appear was Naoto Kan.
Immediately take him to the front of the TV line and talk with a big smile.
However, Mr. Tsunezo's eyes were aimed at the people who got out of the car and gathered at the venue.
Ichiro Ozawa who appeared soon.
Tsunezo's eyes shine.
When I ran up while saying "Icchan, Icchan", I took him next to Naoto Kan.
And not only did they shake hands in front of the camera, but how did they take their hands and lift them up high above their heads?
I really did it, Mr. Huangmon ... The appearance of Hatoyama and Maehara joining in and shaking hands firmly was up to that point, but I felt that it was well received.
Even after Ichiro Ozawa became the Democratic Party for the Democratic Party in the representative election held on April 7, Kozo Watanabe continued to chair the Diet Countermeasures Committee.
At the parliamentary party, when the performance of showing the inro was sought after, he even bought historical costumes and started to show them to the public.
The fact that the Democratic Party executives, who had the impression that many young people were jumping and jumping, was then solidified by veterans may have given a sense of security.
The approval rating also grew steadily, which may have led to the Democratic Party of Japan taking power.
I think that "Aizu no Komon-sama" was certainly in the background.
Mr. Tsunezo always responded to my noisy and persistent interviews with Nico Nico.
Even though there are many politicians, I really want to write a memorial article.
I think there are many reporters other than me who think so.
(This section, Suzuki)
The distance to the "rigid arm"
In 1993, Ichiro Ozawa, a "strong arm" who agreed with the motion of no confidence in the Miyazawa Cabinet at that time, left the Liberal Democratic Party with Watanabe, and aimed for a change of government.
All of them were called "Takeshita-ha Nanajou" by the Liberal Democratic Party and were longing for the future.
He took the same action when he left the Liberal Democratic Party, and in the formed New Frontier Party, Ozawa was the leader and Watanabe was the deputy leader.
During the Democratic Party era, Ozawa, who ran for the representative election, made a speech in the movie "Wildcat" and complained, "In order to survive unchanged, we must change." Watanabe also said, "For 37 years. This is the first speech I've heard. It's all about meeting expectations in one word. "Ozawa has won three elections since then.
However, after this, a delicate distance is created between the two.
Suspicion over Ozawa's political contributions.
Watanabe's harsh words for this.
When Ozawa filed a withdrawal notice in opposition to the consumption tax hike, Watanabe said, "I'm sorry as a friend, but that's it."
The two of them aimed to change the government and realized it, but the surroundings say that they may have had a complicated relationship in later years.
Ozawa commented on Watanabe's newsletter to the press.
"Since I was first elected, I hit it off because I was from the same Tohoku region, and after that I acted together with the Tanaka faction. He was a humorous, humane, and attractive politician loved by everyone. He is one of the important friends who worked together to realize it. "
How it looked to reporters
"I feel like I want to sit down and apologize to the people."
February 6, 2010.
This is what Kozo Watanabe said when asked about the political funding incident of Ichiro Ozawa, who was the chairman of the Democratic Party at the time.
He added, "Because politics belongs to the people, I believe that Mr. Ozawa will humbly accept public opinion and make historic decisions that are said to be'Mr. Ozawa'," and decided to move forward or backward. I urged you to do it.
Mr. Tsunezo speaks clearly to Ozawa, who was proud of his enormous power at that time.
As a journalist, I immediately asked Mr. Tsunezo to comment on something in Ozawa.
When I first took charge, Mr. Kozo was the "Supreme Advisor" of the Democratic Party.
However, on October 26, 2009, after the change of government, when Ozawa became secretary-general, Kozo Watanabe was removed from the position of chief adviser due to party personnel.
However, I think there was a strong bond between the two, not just a feud.
The two are 10 years apart, but have the same birthday, May 24th.
On their birthday in 2011, the two held a rally to support agricultural products such as the Tohoku region, which had been rumored to have been damaged by the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
So Tsunezo turned the water to Ozawa.
"I haven't talked to Ozawa until now, but I'd like to have a frank exchange of opinions from today. The two of us will work hard to create a politics that makes people feel happy about the change of government. To go"
Ozawa also responded, "They have completely different personalities, he is talkative, but I'm not good at speaking."
Two people who have been involved in political activities for many years at the same time as the first election.
To me, it looked like Ozawa with Tsunezo and Tsunezo with Ozawa.
Raise people
Mr. Tsunezo was also focusing on training younger generations.
Mr. Tsunezo, who was one of the "Takeshita-ha Nana Bugyo" in the Liberal Democratic Party, Yoshihiko Noda, who later became Prime Minister in the Democratic Party, Katsuya Okada, Yukio Edano, Seiji Maehara, etc. were named "Nana Bugyo" and looked at them. ..
May 26, 2009, before the change of government.
He gathered Okada and others and confirmed the policy of uniting under the representative Yukio Hatoyama and aiming for a change of government.
He was raising the next generation for the change of government.
Mr. Tsunezo told a lot of valuable old tales to some of us reporters who were still young at that time while drinking sake.
What I always felt was the realization of a two-party system and the extraordinary feelings of a change of government.
After his death, his former secretary said, "You were the last reporters."
I think Mr. Tsunezo was also raising us reporters.
(2 items so far, Hirouchi)
Will Huangmen's dream come true?
September 15th.
150 people, including the Constitutional Democratic Party and the Democratic Party for the People, have joined together to form a new "Constitutional Democratic Party."
The former Democratic Party has finally recovered to a scale approaching the power it had in the House of Representatives before the change of government.
It has been 14 years since Watanabe's side was solidified as "Sukesan Kakusan".
Hirofumi Hirano organized the confluence talks as the secretary-general of the Democratic Party for the People.
He says he wants to pass on Watanabe's thoughts toward a two-party system and a change of government to the next generation.
"I wonder if I'll make a big chunk of opposition and report that I've finally got to the start. But I'm too old. The next generation will say,'I've taken power.' I want to be able to report in front of Mr. Tsunezo's grave. "
"That's a repayment for me." It's
not just Hirano.
Yukio Edano, who was also instructed by Watanabe, and Ichiro Ozawa, who worked hard, also worked hard to realize the merger.
Can it be a part of the realization of the two-party system that Watanabe has been thinking about?
Watanabe withdrew from politics saying, "Old soldiers never die, they just disappear."
Is the voice of Mr. Huangmon still alive in the hearts of the students?
(Honorific title omitted in the text)
Okinawa Bureau Desk
Tetsuya Suzuki
Joined in 1995.
The starting place is Okinawa.
In charge of the official residence, the Liberal Democratic Party, the Democratic Party, the Communist Party, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Defense in the political department.
Participated in the launch of Political Magazine.
Currently, it is the third Okinawa station.
Fukuoka Bureau Desk
Hitoshi
Hirouchi Joined
in
1997.
Political department from Yokohama station.
After working at the Washington bureau and the ruling party cap, he is now the Fukuoka bureau desk.
Political
editor Takuya Miyazato
Joined the station in 2006.
From Saitama Bureau to the Political Department.
Covered the former Democratic Party and was in charge of the Democratic Party for the People.
Emi Yonezu, a
political
editor
, joined in 2013.
Nagano station first appointment.
In the political department, he is currently in charge of the Constitutional Democratic Party and the Democratic Party for the People.