named minister of finance after the election of Hatoyama as Prime Minister in September 2009. Shortly following his appointment, Fujii publicly opposed intervention to weaken the Japanese yen for the benefit of Japanese exporters, saying that other countries would be inclined to do the same thing. He later clarified that he did not favor a strong yen and was not pleased with its recent appreciation in value. Fujii also reversed his historical position on the consumption tax, and demanded the appointment of two vice ministers, Yoshihiko Noda and Naoki Minezaki, who were in favor of raising it. Ozawa told Fujii in December 2009 that he failed to demonstrate political leadership, and persuaded Hatoyama to change the party's campaign promise on gasoline taxes over Fujii's objections. Fujii abruptly announced his resignation as finance minister on 5 January 2010, and it was reluctantly accepted by Prime Minister Hatoyama a day later. Fujii had been suffering from high blood pressure and exhaustion, so he claimed that his deteriorating health forced him to resign from the high-stress position of finance minister. However, some political analysts believed that Fujii resigned due to his power struggle with Ozawa. On 7 January 2010, Naoto Kan replaced Fujii as finance minister. Fujii served in the Kan cabinet as Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary. Noda took over the finance portfolio under the Kan government, and succeeded Kan as prime minister in 2011. Fujii remained in regular contact with Noda throughout this time, but was careful to keep a low profile in doing so. He publicly maintained his position on yen intervention, stating in 2011 that it was more important for Japan to open its markets. He announced his retirement from politics at the age of 80, shortly prior to the 2012 general election. Death Fujii died on 10 July 2022 at his home in Tokyo, aged 90. References External links in Japanese. |- 1932 births 2022 deaths People from Tokyo University of Tokyo alumni Ministers of Finance of Japan Members of the House of Representatives (Japan) Members of the House of Councillors (Japan) Democratic Party of Japan politicians Liberal Democratic Party (Japan) politicians Japan Renewal Party politicians Liberal Party (Japan, 1998) politicians 21st-century Japanese politicians Politicians from Tokyo