Japan ministers visit war-related shrine

Japan ministers visit war-related shrine

TOKYO, Japan - Lawmakers from various parties, including transport minister Yuichiro Hata (far R), visit Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on Aug. 15, 2012. Hata and Jin Matsubara, a state minister in charge of the issue of North Korea's abductions of Japanese nationals, visited the World War II-related shrine on the anniversary of Japan's surrender in the war, the first by Cabinet members under a government led by the Democratic Party of Japan that came to power in 2009.

Japan ministers visit war-related shrine

Japan ministers visit war-related shrine

TOKYO, Japan - File photo shows transport minister Yuichiro Hata (L) and Jin Matsubara, a state minister in charge of the issue of North Korea's abductions of Japanese nationals. Hata and Matsubara visited World War II-related Yasukuni Shrine on Aug. 15, 2012, the anniversary of Japan's surrender in the war, the first visit by Cabinet members under a government led by the Democratic Party of Japan that came to power in 2009.

Japan ministers visit war-related shrine

Japan ministers visit war-related shrine

TOKYO, Japan - Transport minister Yuichiro Hata (L) visits Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on Aug. 15, 2012. Hata and Jin Matsubara, a state minister in charge of the issue of North Korea's abductions of Japanese nationals, visited the World War II-related shrine on the anniversary of Japan's surrender in the war, the first by Cabinet members under a government led by the Democratic Party of Japan that came to power in 2009.

Japan ministers visit war-related shrine

Japan ministers visit war-related shrine

TOKYO, Japan - Jin Matsubara (C), a state minister in charge of the issue of North Korea's abductions of Japanese nationals, arrives at Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on Aug. 15, 2012. Matsubara and transport minister Yuichiro Hata visited the World War II-related shrine on the anniversary of Japan's surrender in the war, the first by Cabinet members under a government led by the Democratic Party of Japan that came to power in 2009.

Japanese minister vows to rescue abductees

Japanese minister vows to rescue abductees

SEOUL, South Korea - Jin Matsubara (R), Japanese minister in charge of addressing the abduction of Japanese nationals by North Korean agents in the 1970s and 1980s, records a message at a radio station in Seoul on April 22, 2012, for a shortwave program of Free North Korea Radio, which is run by defectors from North Korea. In the message he vowed that Japan will make ''all-out efforts to rescue abductees as soon as possible.''

Abductees' kin meet with abduction minister Matsubara

Abductees' kin meet with abduction minister Matsubara

TOKYO, Japan - Shigeo Iizuka (C), chairman of the Association of the Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea, and Teruaki Masumoto (R), secretary general of the association, meet with Jin Matsubara, minister in charge of the abduction issue, at the National Police Agency in Tokyo on Jan. 17, 2012. Matsubara vowed to make every effort to settle the long-standing issue.

New abduction minister meets victim's parents

New abduction minister meets victim's parents

KAWASAKI, Japan - Jin Matsubara (R), minister in charge of the North Korean abduction issue, meets Shigeru Yokota (C) and his wife Sakie, whose daughter Megumi was abducted by North Korean agents at age 13 in 1977, at their residence in Kawasaki, near Tokyo, on Jan. 14, 2012. Matsubara assumed the portfolio the previous day.

Japan Cabinet reshuffle

Japan Cabinet reshuffle

TOKYO, Japan - Japan's new National Public Safety Commission Chairman Jin Matsubara speaks in a press conference in Tokyo on Jan. 13, 2012, following a Cabinet reshuffle.

Outgoing national public safety chief Yamaoka

Outgoing national public safety chief Yamaoka

TOKYO, Japan - Kenji Yamaoka, chairman of the National Public Safety Commission and consumer affairs minister, attends a press conference at the National Police Agency in Tokyo on Jan. 13, 2012. Yamaoka, who was censured in the House of Councillors in December, was replaced by senior vice transport minister Jin Matsubara the same day.

New consumer affairs minister Matsubara

New consumer affairs minister Matsubara

Undated file photo shows senior vice transport minister Jin Matsubara. Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda appointed Matsubara on Jan. 13, 2012, as public safety commission chief and consumer affairs minister, succeeding Kenji Yamaoka, who was censured in the House of Councillors in December.

Japanese minister vows to rescue abductees

Japanese minister vows to rescue abductees

SEOUL, South Korea - Jin Matsubara (R), Japanese minister in charge of addressing the abduction of Japanese nationals by North Korean agents in the 1970s and 1980s, records a message at a radio station in Seoul on April 22, 2012, for a shortwave program of Free North Korea Radio, which is run by defectors from North Korea. In the message he vowed that Japan will make ''all-out efforts to rescue abductees as soon as possible.'' (Kyodo)

Abductees' kin meet with abduction minister Matsubara

Abductees' kin meet with abduction minister Matsubara

TOKYO, Japan - Shigeo Iizuka (C), chairman of the Association of the Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea, and Teruaki Masumoto (R), secretary general of the association, meet with Jin Matsubara, minister in charge of the abduction issue, at the National Police Agency in Tokyo on Jan. 17, 2012. Matsubara vowed to make every effort to settle the long-standing issue. (Kyodo)

New abduction minister meets victim's parents

New abduction minister meets victim's parents

KAWASAKI, Japan - Jin Matsubara (R), minister in charge of the North Korean abduction issue, meets Shigeru Yokota (C) and his wife Sakie, whose daughter Megumi was abducted by North Korean agents at age 13 in 1977, at their residence in Kawasaki, near Tokyo, on Jan. 14, 2012. Matsubara assumed the portfolio the previous day. (Kyodo)

Japan Cabinet reshuffle

Japan Cabinet reshuffle

TOKYO, Japan - Japan's new National Public Safety Commission Chairman Jin Matsubara speaks in a press conference in Tokyo on Jan. 13, 2012, following a Cabinet reshuffle. (Kyodo)

Named consumer affairs minister Matsubara

Named consumer affairs minister Matsubara

TOKYO, Japan - Undated file photo shows senior vice transport minister Jin Matsubara. Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda announced Matsubara on Jan. 13, 2012, as public safety commission chief and consumer affairs minister, succeeding Kenji Yamaoka, who was censured in the House of Councillors in December. (Kyodo)

Outgoing national public safety chief Yamaoka

Outgoing national public safety chief Yamaoka

TOKYO, Japan - Kenji Yamaoka, chairman of the National Public Safety Commission and consumer affairs minister, attends a press conference at the National Police Agency in Tokyo on Jan. 13, 2012. Yamaoka, who was censured in the House of Councillors in December, was replaced by senior vice transport minister Jin Matsubara the same day. (Kyodo)

Democratic Party's veteran lawmaker to join new party

Democratic Party's veteran lawmaker to join new party

Jin Matsubara, a veteran member of the main opposition Democratic Party and former head of the National Public Safety Commission, speaks to reporters in Tokyo on Sept. 25, 2017, after tendering his resignation from the party. Matsubara said he will run in the general election expected in October with a new party being organized by lawmakers close to Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Democratic Party's veteran lawmaker to join new party

Democratic Party's veteran lawmaker to join new party

Jin Matsubara, a veteran member of the main opposition Democratic Party and former head of the National Public Safety Commission, speaks to reporters in Tokyo on Sept. 25, 2017, after tendering his resignation from the party. Matsubara said he will run in the general election expected in October with a new party being organized by lawmakers close to Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo