Rui Matsukawa

Rui Matsukawa
松川るい
Official portrait, 2020
Member of the House of Councillors from Osaka
Incumbent
Assumed office
July 26, 2016
ConstituencyOsaka at-large district
Personal details
Born (1971-02-26) February 26, 1971 (age 53)
Ōita Prefecture, Japan
Political partyLiberal Democratic Party
SpouseYusuke Arai
Children2 daughters
Alma materUniversity of Tokyo
Georgetown University

Rui Arai[1] (新居 るい, Arai Rui, née Matsukawa, 松川; February 26, 1971) is a Japanese politician and diplomat who serves as a member of the House of Councillors representing the Liberal Democratic Party. She previously served as Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Defense and Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Cabinet Office. She is the wife of diplomat Yūsuke Arai.

Early life and education

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Matsukawa was born in Ōita Prefecture,[2] and raised in Osaka Prefecture. After graduating from Shitennoji Junior and Senior High School, she studied law at the University of Tokyo.[1] She earned a master's degree in international relations from Georgetown University in 1997.[3][4]

Career

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Diplomatic career

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Matsukawa entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1993, after graduating from university.[1][5] She was appointed assistant director of the Legal Affairs Division in the Treaty Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1999. In 2002, she became assistant director of the Regional Policy Division in the Asia and Pacific Bureau.[5]

At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she was involved in diplomatic negotiations with ASEAN countries, including the International Space Station, ASEAN Cooperation and Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat, the International Tribunal for the Southern Bluefin Tuna, etc. From 2004, as First Secretary of the Permanent Mission of Japan to the Conference on Disarmament, she worked on international situation analysis in the Nuclear Disarmament Intelligence Division.

After serving as Chief Secretary of the Intelligence and Analysis Service, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she was appointed as Deputy Director General under Director General Shin Bong-gil at the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat in Seoul in 2011, where she served until 2013.

Political career

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Matsukawa was selected in the open call for candidates for the 24th ordinary election for the House of Councillors conducted by the Osaka Branch Federation of the Liberal Democratic Party in 2016.[6] She was elected for the first time as the top vote-getter in the Osaka electoral district.[7]

She was re-elected to the House of Councillors in July 2022.[8]

Controversies

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Comment on elderly Japanese people

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On March 2, 2020, Matsukawa caused disorder during a questioning of the House of Councillors Budget Committee (regarding the countermeasures against the COVID-19 pandemic), when she fielded the comment: "Elderly Japanese people don't walk, so they are fine."[9][10][11] Renhō, a member of the Constitutional Democratic Party, who asking the question as she said: "I am surprised that such a statement came from a member of the ruling party." Afterwards, Matsukawa explained to the press that "Elderly people in facilities typically have their comings and goings properly controlled," and also said that "I regret the misleading expression. If anyone was offended, I apologize."[9]

Banned from the Russian invasion of Ukraine

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In May 2022, Matsukawa permanently banned from entering Russia as a result of Russian government's retaliatory measures against Japan following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[citation needed]

Training program in France

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In July 2023, the Liberal Democratic Party's Women's Bureau took 38 participants to France for an overseas training program. Matsukawa, the Bureau Director, posted a photo on social media of herself posing with Eriko Imai and other participants with the Eiffel Tower in the background. The photo was met with numerous critical comments such as, "Is this a blood-tax-funded trip?" After receiving criticism, Matsukawa deleted the photo and apologized on social media. She explained that the expenses were "party funds and each participant's own expenses," but this drew further criticism, saying, "The income of a legislator is taxpayers' money."[12][13] On August 1, Hiroshige Sekō, Secretary General of the House of Councillors of the Liberal Democratic Party, stated that "it was thoughtless of her to upload photos on social media that could be mistaken for tourism," and said that he had given Matsukawa a stern warning.[14] On the other hand, Matsukawa herself said, "The training itself was meaningful. I was able to hear in detail about the process and results of the compulsory early childhood education from the age of three in France, and had a meaningful exchange of opinions with people from the Senate and the National Assembly about women's activities in politics."[15]

Personal life

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Matsukawa's family includes her husband Yusuke Arai and two daughters.[16][17]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "松川　るい（まつかわ　るい）：参議院". House of Councillors. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
  2. ^ "御厨貴×鈴木一人×松川るい 「想定外」ではすまされない！ 戦争・疫病・自然災害 「危機対応」への喫緊の課題｜政治・経済｜中央公論.jp". Chuokoron-Shinsha (in Japanese). 2022-03-16. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
  3. ^ "MATSUKAWA Rui". World Forum Democracy. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
  4. ^ "Speakers Profile". The 23rd International Conference for Women in Business (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-08-13.
  5. ^ a b "松川るいのプロフィール". Matsukawa Rui. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
  6. ^ "参院大阪に外務官僚・松川るい氏擁立へ 自民大阪府連が調整（1/2ページ）". Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). 2016-02-21. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
  7. ^ "元外務官僚、自民の松川るい氏が初当選…大阪 : 政治 : 読売新聞（YOMIURI ONLINE）". Yomiuri Shimbun. 2016-07-10. Archived from the original on 2016-07-10. Retrieved 2016-11-05.
  8. ^ "大阪選挙区で自民党の松川るい氏が再選". Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). 2022-07-10. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
  9. ^ a b "コロナ対策「高齢者は歩かないからいい」　自民・松川氏". Asahi Shimbun. 2020-03-02. Archived from the original on 2020-03-02. Retrieved 2020-03-02.
  10. ^ "参院予算委 自民 松川氏「高齢者は歩かない」とやじ飛ばし謝罪". NHK. 2020-03-02. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
  11. ^ "自民党松川るい議員「高齢者は歩かない」やじで陳謝 - 社会 : 日刊スポーツ". Nikkan Sports. 2020-03-02. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
  12. ^ "自民女性局、視察写真が波紋 ネット上「血税で旅行」批判". Jiji Press. 2023-07-31. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
  13. ^ "仏視察の自民党議員に批判　SNSの投稿に視察参加の議員は…「みんな怒っている」【news23】". Yahoo News. TBS. 2023-08-01. Archived from the original on 2023-08-01. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
  14. ^ "自民世耕氏「軽率だ」松川女性局長を厳重注意". Sankei Shimbun. 2023-08-01. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
  15. ^ "自民 松川るい氏 仏研修中エッフェル塔前で撮影写真投稿 陳謝". NHK. 2023-08-01. Retrieved 2023-08-02.
  16. ^ "「ならでは」の視点訴え 女性4氏が出馬へ". Osaka Nichinichi Shimbun. 2016-06-14. Archived from the original on 2016-06-15. Retrieved 2016-11-05.
  17. ^ "国際仕事人に聞く第19回：松川るいさん". United Nations Forum. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
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