Ryu Matsumoto

Ryu Matsumoto (松本 龍, Matsumoto Ryū, born May 17, 1951) is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Fukuoka, Fukuoka and graduate of Chuo University, he was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 1990 as a member of the Japan Socialist Party. He followed in the steps of his grandfather (Jiichirō Matsumoto) and father at the command of the Buraku Liberation League.

He resigned from the post of the Minister of Reconstruction after making harsh and abrasive criticism of the two governors from the area affected by the Great East Japan earthquake as well as threatening to ruin the career of any journalists who reported his remarks. He later apologised and then blamed his behaviour on his Fukuoka background which is well known for frankness and also to his B-blood type, a popular superstition in Japan.

External links

• Official website (Japanese)

Political offices
Preceded by Sakihito Ozawa	Minister of Environment 2010–2011	Succeeded by Satsuki Eda
Preceded by Hiroshi Nakai	Minister of State for Disaster Management 2010–2011	Succeeded by Tatsuo Hirano
Preceded by Taku Yamasaki Yanosuke Narazaki Seiichi Ōta Takenori Kanzaki Tadashi Kawano	Representative for Fukuoka's 1st district (multi-member) 1990–1996 Served alongside: Taku Yamasaki, Hirotarō Yamasaki, Takenori Kanzaki, Seiichi Ōta, Yanosuke Narazaki	District eliminated
New district	Representative for Fukuoka's 1st district 1996–present	Incumbent