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LDP veteran Kyuma loses Diet seat

ISAHAYA, Japan - Veteran Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Fumio Kyuma bows to his supporters in Isahaya, Nagasaki Prefecture, on Aug. 30. Kyuma, a former defense minister, lost his seat in the House of Representatives.

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Bigger the sash, bigger the election win in Japan?

NAGASAKI, Japan - Former Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma, wearing a wide sash bearing his name, speaks to his supporters in the town of Togitsu, Nagasaki Prefecture, on Aug. 18, the start of the official campaign for the Aug. 30 general election. Most candidates including veteran politicians wear name sashes in elections in Japan.

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Ex-defense chiefs Kyuma, Nukaga dined by ex-defense firm exec: Moriya

TOKYO, Japan - Former Vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya asks for permission to answer a question as a sworn witness during a House of Councillors panel session on Nov. 15. Moriya said that former Defense Agency directors general Fumio Kyuma and Fukushiro Nukaga were dined by a former executive of a scandal-hit defense equipment trading firm.

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Ex-defense chiefs Kyuma, Nukaga dined by ex-defense firm exec: Moriya

TOKYO, Japan - Former Vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya looks through papers while being questioned at a House of Councillors panel as a sworn witness on Nov. 15. Moriya said that former Defense Agency directors general Fumio Kyuma and Fukushiro Nukaga were dined by a former executive of a scandal-hit defense equipment trading firm.

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Koike becomes 1st female Japanese defense minister

TOKYO, Japan - Newly appointed Defense Minister Yuriko Koike (R) shake hands with her outgoing predecessor Fumio Kyuma at the Defense Ministry in Tokyo on July 4.

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Koike to officially become 1st female defense minister

TOKYO, Japan - Yuriko Koike answers media questions at the prime minister's office on July 4 about her appointment as successor to outgoing Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma, who resigned the previous day over his controversial remarks on the U.S. atomic bombings of Japan in World War II.

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defense Minister Kyuma bows out

TOKYO, Japan - Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma is seen off by Self-Defense Forces officers as he leaves office on July 4 after resigning over his controversial remarks on the U.S. atomic bombings of Japan in World War II.

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defense Minister Kyuma bows out

TOKYO, Japan - Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma reads his farewell message at his ministry as he leaves office on July 4 after resigning over his controversial remarks on the U.S. atomic bombings of Japan in World War II.

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Koike to officially become 1st female defense minister

TOKYO, Japan - Yuriko Koike speaks with reporters at the prime minister's office on July 4 about her appointment as successor to outgoing Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma, who resigned the previous day over his controversial remarks on the U.S. atomic bombings of Japan in World War II.

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Abe says he 'respects' Kyuma's decision to quit

TOKYO, Japan - Embattled Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks to reporters at his official residence on July 3 after he accepted the resignation of Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma just weeks before the House of Councillors election and quickly named Yuriko Koide, his national security adviser, to the job. Abe says he ''respect(s)'' Kyuma's decision to quit. Kyuma was forced to resign following intense protests from opposition parties and atomic-bomb victims who were angered by his comments on the U.S. atomic bombing in Nagasaki in World War II. ''I understand the bombing brought the war to its end. I think it was something that couldn't be helped,'' he told a gathering on June 30.

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Kyuma insists his comments were misrepresented by media

TOKYO, Japan - Outgoing Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma bows at the end of a news conference in the Defense Ministry on July 3 where he insisted his controversial comments concerning the 1945 U.S. atomic bombing of Nagasaki were misrepresented by the media, while admitting he used some words carelessly and ended up hurting atomic-bomb survivors.

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Koike appointed as defense minister after Kyuma bows out

TOKYO, Japan - Yuriko Koike, special adviser to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on national security, surrounded by reporters at the Prime Minister's Official Residence after she was appointed as defense minister on July 3. She succeeds Fumio Kyuma, who stepped down from the Cabinet post over remarks he made on the weekend, which were taken to justify the U.S. atomic bombings during World War II.

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Defense Chief Kyuma steps down, Koike named as successor

TOKYO, Japan - File photo of Yuriko Koiko, special adviser to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Koike was named as defense minister on July 3 after Fumio Kyuma resigned the post over remarks on U.S. atomic bombings during World War II.

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Defense Minister Kyuma steps down

TOKYO, Japan - Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma speaks to reporters at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on July 3 after meeting with Prime Minister Shizo Abe to submit his resignation. Kyuma has been under fire over his remarks he made on June 30 about the atomic bombing of Nagasaki.

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Defense Minister Kyuma steps down

TOKYO, Japan - Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma is surrounded by reporters at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on July 3 after meeting with Prime Minister Shizo Abe to submit his resignation. Kyuma has been under fire over his remarks he made on June 30 about the atomic bombing of Nagasaki.

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Nagasaki mayor lodges protest with Kyuma over A-bomb remarks

TOKYO, Japan - Nagasaki Mayor Tomihisa Taue (C) hands a protest note to Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma (R) at the Defense Ministry in Tokyo on July 3 over Kyuma's comments on June 30 that the atomic bombing of Nagasaki was ''something that couldn't be helped.'

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Opposition leaders urge Abe to sack defense minister

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese Communist Party Secretary General Tadayoshi Ichida, Democratic Party of Japan Acting President Hayato Kan and Social Democratic Party leader Mizuho Fukushima (L to R) attend a rally at the No. 2 House of Representatives Members Hall in Tokyo and demand that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sack Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma over remarks he made over the weekend that appear to justify the U.S. atomic bombing of Japan in World War II.

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Nagasaki protests Kyuma's remarks on WWII A-bombing

NAGASAKI, Japan - Peace activists hold a sit-in rally at the Peace Memorial Park in Nagasaki on July 2 in protest against remarks Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma made over the weekend that appear to justify the U.S. use of atomic bombs against Japan in World War II. ''I understand the bombing (of Nagasaki) brought the war to its end. I think it was something that couldn't be helped,'' Kyuma said in a speech on June 30. A similar sit-in rally was held in Hiroshima on July 2.

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Hiroshima protests Kyuma's remarks on WWII A-bombing

HIROSHIMA, Japan - Peace activists hold a sit-in rally in front of the cenotaph for victims of the atomic bombing in Hiroshima on July 2 in protest against Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma who said in a speech on June 30, ''I understand the bombing (of Nagasaki) brought the war to its end. I think it was something that couldn't be helped.'' A similar sit-in rally was held in Nagasaki.

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Abe cautions Kyuma to watch his mouth following A-bomb remarks

TOKYO, Japan - Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma speaks to reporters at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on July 2 after meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe about his remarks taken as justifying the U.S. atomic bombing of Japan in World War II.

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Abe denies sacking Kyuma following apology over A-bomb comments

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (L) speaks during a policy debate with main opposition Democratic Party of Japan President Ichiro Ozawa (R) in Tokyo on July 1. Abe denied sacking Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma over his remarks on the wartime U.S. atomic bombing, while ruling out calling for a U.S. apology for the attack.

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Kyuma apologizes, retracts A-bombing comments

SHIMABARA, Japan - Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma offers his apology over his controversial remarks on the U.S. atomic bombings of Japan at a press conference in his constituency in Shimabara, Nagasaki Prefecture, on July 1. He effectively retracted his comments made the previous day amid a barrage of criticism from some officials of Japan's ruling camp as well as A-bomb victims and opposition parties. ''I am sorry that my remarks gave an impression that A-bomb victims were made light of,'' Kyuma said.

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Kyuma apologizes, retracts A-bombing comments

SHIMABARA, Japan - Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma offers his apology over his controversial remarks on the U.S. atomic bombings of Japan at a press conference in his constituency in Shimabara, Nagasaki Prefecture, on July 1. He effectively retracted his comments made the previous day amid a barrage of criticism from some officials of Japan's ruling camp as well as A-bomb victims and opposition parties. ''I am sorry that my remarks gave an impression that A-bomb victims were made light of,'' Kyuma said.

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Kyuma apologizes, retracts A-bombing comments

TOKYO, Japan - Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma speaks to reporters in Tokyo on July 1. He apologized over comments he made the previous day that were taken as justifying the wartime atomic bombing of Japan in 1945 by the United States. He effectively retracted his comments amid a barrage of criticism from some officials of Japan's ruling camp as well as A-bomb victims and opposition parties. ''I am sorry that my remarks gave an impression that A-bomb victims were made light of,'' Kyuma said.

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U.S. A-bomb dropping 'couldn't be helped': Japan's defense minister

TOKYO, Japan - Japan's Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma (in file photo) said on June 30 that he thinks the dropping of atomic bombs by the United States in the closing days of World War II ''could not be helped'' as it was aimed at preventing the Soviet Union from entering the war against Japan. ''I understand the bombings brought the war to its end. I think it was something that couldn't be helped,'' he said in a speech at a university in Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture.

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GSDF colonel arrested for alleged bribery

TOKYO, Japan - Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma speaks during a news conference at his ministry in Tokyo on June 22 in connection with the arrest of a Ground Self-Defense Force colonel the same day on suspicion of taking bribes from a trading company in connection with procurements of GSDF equipment.

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Japan, Australia hold 1st 2-plus-2 top security talks in Tokyo

TOKYO, Japan - (From R to L) Japanese Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma, Japanese Foreign Minister Aso Taro, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and Australian Defense Minister Brendan Nelson hold a join news conference at the Foreign Ministry's Iikura guesthouse in Tokyo on June 6 after their first ''two-plus-two'' top security talks.

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Japan, Australia hold 1st 2-plus-2 talks in Tokyo

TOKYO, Japan - (From L to R) Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, Australian Defense Minister Brendan Nelson and Japanese Defense Minister Fumi Kyuma join hands in Tokyo on June 6 prior to their first ''two-plus-two'' top security talks.

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Japan, Australia discuss enhancement of security cooperation

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma (L) and his Australian counterpart Brendan Nelson shake hands at the Defense Ministry in Tokyo on June 5 ahead of their talks. They met to reaffirm the enhancement of their governments' security cooperation in areas such as U.N. peacekeeping activities and dealing with North Korea-related threats.

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Diet enacts legislation to disband defense facilities agency

TOKYO, Japan - Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma (C) stands up in acknowledgement at the House of Councillors after the parliament enacted legislation June 1 to disband the scandal-plagued Defense Facilities Administration Agency and streamline the country's defense organization. The measure passed the upper house with a 175 to 13 vote, as shown on the electronic ballot board in the background

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U.S. forces realignment bill enacted

TOKYO, Japan - Defense Miniter Fumi Kyuma stands to acknowledge coalition members of the House of Councillors after a bill for facilitating the implementation of plans to realign U.S. military forces in Japan was passed by their support at a upper house plenary session.

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3 education bills clear lower house, certain to become law

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (C), flanked by his Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma (L) and Foreign Minister Taro Aso (R), claps after the House of Representatives approved a set of three education reform bills during a plenary session on May 18. The bills are aimed at instilling patriotism during compulsory education, reinforcing state control over local education boards and requiring teachers to renew their licenses every decade.

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Kyuma repeats need to relax Japan's arms export ban

WASHINGTON, United States - Japanese Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma delivers a speech at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative Washington think tank, on May 2. Kyuma reiterated his call for looser arms export controls to enhance joint research and development of weapons between Japan and the United States.

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Japan, U.S. press N. Korea on denuke step

WASHINGTON, United States - (From L to R) Japan's Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma, Japan's Foreign Minister Taro Aso, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates attend a joint news conference at the State Department in Washington on May 1 after their meeting.

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Japan vows to prevent data leak

WASHINGTON, United States - Japanese Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma speaks to reporters in front of the Pentagon outside Washington on April 30 after talks with U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

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Japan vows to prevent data leak

WASHINGTON, United States - Visiting Japanese Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma (L) and U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates review an honor guard in front of the Pentagon outside Washington on April 30.

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Japan's defense minister visits CENTCOM, vows support for Iraq

TAMPA, United States - Japanese Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma (R) is greeted by Vice Admiral David Nichols on arrival at the U.S. Central Command in Tampa, Florida, on April 29. Kyuma assured the U.S. military that Japan will continue to support reconstruction efforts in Iraq through extending the deployment of Japanese air troops for airlift operations.

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Okinawa gov. tells Kyuma prelim survey for base accepted

TOKYO, Japan - Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma (L) talk with Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima (C) and Nago Mayor Yoshikazu Shimabukuro at the Defense Ministry in Tokyo on April 25.

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Abe attends funeral for 4 GSDF crew killed in chopper crash

NAHA, Japan - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (C) and Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma (2nd from R) attend a funeral held at the Air Self-Defense Force's Naha Base in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, on April 15 for four crew members of a Ground Self-Defense Force helicopter killed in a crash last month while on a mission to pick up a patient.

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Abe attends funeral for 4 GSDF crew killed in chopper crash

NAHA, Japan - Relatives, friends and others offer a floral tribute at a funeral for the four crew members of a Ground Self-Defense Force helicopter killed in a crash last month while on a mission to pick up a patient. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma also attended the funeral.

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Howard, Kyuma agree on setting up security dialogue

TOKYO, Japan - Australian Prime Minister John Howard (L) and Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma shake hands at a hotel in Tokyo on March 13 prior to their talks.

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Japan, S. Korea defense ministers meet in Tokyo

TOKYO, Japan - South Korean Defense Minister Kim Jang Soo (L in back) speaks Feb. 25 at the outset of talks with Japanese Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma (3rd from L in front) in Tokyo.

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Japan, S. Korea defense ministers meet in Tokyo

TOKYO, Japan - South Korean Defense Minister Kim Jang Soo (L) and Japanese Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma shake hands before their talks Feb. 25 in Tokyo.

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Japan OKs trade sanctions on Iran amid nuke standoff

TOKYO, Japan - Japan's Cabinet approved on Feb. 16 a set of measures to implement a U.N. Security Council sanctions resolution that bans trading with Iran in items that could contribute to the country's nuclear and ballistic missile programs. (From L to R) are Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Foreign Minister Taro Aso and welfare minister Hakuo Yanagisawa.

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Diet convenes for 150-day regular session

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (C) and two of his key aides -- Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma (L) and Foreign Minister Taro Aso -- pose for photographers at the Prime Minister's Official Residence on Jan. 25 as they prepare to attend a Cabinet meeting prior to the opening of the Diet for a 150-day regular session.

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Government, Okinawa officials meet over Futemma base transfer

TOKYO, Japan - Officials from the central government and Okinawa meet at the Prime Minister's Official Residence on Jan. 19 in the latest round of talks on moving the U.S. Marine Futemma Air Station from Ginowan in central Okinawa to Nago in the north. The latest talks concern a proposal from the city of Nago on how to reduce aircraft engine noise from the proposed base. The government is represented in the meeting by Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma (1st R) and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki (2nd R) and the Okinawa side is led by Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima (3rd L)

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Defense Ministry launched, upgraded from agency

TOKYO, Japan - Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma reviews honor guards at his ministry in Tokyo on Jan. 9 after he became defense minister from defense agency director general. The Defense Agency was upgraded to full ministry status the same day.

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Defense Ministry launched, upgraded from agency

TOKYO, Japan - Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma points to his nameplate at his office in Tokyo on Jan. 9 showing his new title of defense minister, changed from defense agency director general. The Defense Agency was upgraded to full ministry status the same day.

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Defense Ministry launched, upgraded from agency

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (L) and Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma (R) attend a ceremony marking the birth of the Defense Ministry held at the ministry in Tokyo on Jan. 9. The Defense Agency was upgraded to full ministry status the same day.

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Defense Ministry launched, upgraded from agency

TOKYO, Japan - Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma speaks at a ceremony marking the birth of the Defense Ministry held at the ministry in Tokyo on Jan. 9. The Defense Agency was upgraded to full ministry status the same day.