Ichiro Komatsu
Ichiro Komatsu (1951 – June 23, 2014) was a Japanese diplomat, civil servant and politician. He was appointed the Director-General of the Cabinet Legislation Bureau, a highly influential post, by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in August 2013.[1] The Cabinet Legislation Bureau advises Cabinet members on laws and legal matters, studies legislation, and determines how the government should interpret the Constitution of Japan.[1] He stepped down from the position in May 2014 due to declining health from cancer.[1] Komatsu had previously served as Japan's ambassador to France and Switzerland earlier in his career.[1]
Born in 1951, Komatsu graduated from Hitotsubashi University.[1] He joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and served as the ministry's director-general for international legal affairs.[1]
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe unilaterally appointed Komatsu as Director-General of the Cabinet Legislation Bureau in August 2013. Komatsu was the first Foreign Ministry official to be appointed to the post.[1] Abe and Komatsu shared similar beliefs that Japan's pacifist Constitution should be revised to allow for more military involvement overseas.[1] Komatsu supported Abe's efforts to skirt Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution to increase Japan's security role on the international stage.[1]
Ichiro Komatsu died from cancer on June 23, 2014, at the age of 63.[1]
