Japan's Abe picks conservative mentor for top post

0 Comments | AFP, September, 2006

TOKYO (AFP) — A day before he becomes Japan's youngest prime minister, Shinzo Abe gave a top job to his conservative mentor Hidenao Nakagawa who got to work trying to repair relations with China. Nakagawa, 62, who resigned another top post in 2000 in a sex scandal, was appointed secretary general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), the highest post after the party presidency which is held by the 52-year-old Abe.

"Please offer me support as I put my life into this job," Nakagawa told LDP lawmakers Monday after they endorsed his appointment to the position, which carries wide influence in setting policy. Nakagawa, Abe's senior in their party faction, played a behind-the-scenes role in the 52-year-old's overwhelming win in the party election last week by persuading...