Norihiko Akagi

Norihiko Akagi (Japanese赤城 徳 彦, Norihiko Akagi, born April 18, 1959 in Chikusei ) is a Japanese politician. He was from May 2007 to August 1, 2007 Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

Akagi is a graduate of Tokyo University and was a civil servant in the Ministry of Agriculture. At age 30, he was elected in 1990 for the LDP to the House; at that time he was the youngest Member of Parliament.

Later he was deputy defense minister and held various party posts.

Akagi took office as Minister of Agriculture after the suicide of his predecessor Toshikatsu Matsuoka on 28 May 2007, who had been involved in several financial scandals. Less than two months later accusations against Akagi were loud. He was accused of irregularities in the accounts of his campaign organization. The widening scandal also played a role in the Upper House election in July 2007, in which the LDP suffered a heavy defeat and lost its majority in the upper house. Under increasing public and internal party pressure Akagi resigned as Minister of Agriculture on August 1. His successor was Masahiko Wakabayashi.

2009 Akagi lost his seat in the House of Commons.