Konno Taro (Taro Kono)

Konno Taro (Taro Kono)

Biography

2023: 3-month salary refund due to failed digital passport project

On August 15, 2023, it became known that the Minister for Digitalization of Japan Taro Kono (Taro Kono) will voluntarily return his salary for three months in recognition of responsibility for the failed project of digital passports.

Since 2016, plastic cards of a single digital identity card have been introduced in Japan. Any citizen or foreigner residing in the country can receive a 12-digit identification number. Various personal data are tied to the card, such as information on health and social insurance, taxation, bank accounts, etc.

However, the introduction of the digital passport system is accompanied by numerous difficulties and failures. In particular, hundreds of cases have been recorded when bank accounts of some users were associated with other people's identity cards. Some 8,000 health insurance documents and 3,000 disability certificates were also mistakenly matched to incorrect digital passports. All this caused discontent on the part of citizens and provoked a flurry of complaints.

Leaks of personal information and errors in registration in the digital passport system have increased public concern about the protection of personal data. The layered situation led to a decrease in approval ratings of the cabinet of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Against this background, Minister for Digitalization Taro Kono decided to take personal responsibility for what was happening.

As a minister, I must take responsibility for the slow initial response. We will work carefully to ensure the smooth exchange of information and improve the efficiency of decision-making. I will continue to concentrate on my responsibilities, "Kono said.[1]

2024: Japanese presidential candidate

At the end of August 2024, it became known that the Minister for Digital Transformation of Japan Taro Kono (Taro Kono) nominated himself for the post of chairman of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Ex-Minister of Economic Security Takayuki Kobayashi and former Japanese Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba also announced their candidacies.

Kono was born on January 10, 1963. Initially planning to study economics in Japan, he dropped out, enrolling at Georgetown University, which he graduated with a bachelor of science degree in foreign service in 1983. In 1996, he was elected to the House of Representatives of the Japanese Parliament. In 2015-2016, Kono served as chairman of the Security Council of Japan, in 2017-2019 - Minister of Foreign Affairs. In addition, from September 2019 to September 2020, he served as Minister of Defense of Japan. He took over as Minister for Digital Transformation in August 2022.

Bloomberg

The election of the new chairman of the LDP, who will become the next Prime Minister of Japan, will be held on September 27, 2024. Current Prime Minister Fumio Kisida said he would not nominate himself and would leave the post of head of government. Kono, 61, who was close to securing the top job but lost to Kisida in 2021, said the upcoming election would be an opportunity for him to demonstrate Japan's clear positioning on the world stage.

I will implement reforms that are critical to Japan's future. This will be an election in which we need to clearly demonstrate Japan's role and responsibility on a global scale, Kono said at a press conference, adding that the LDP needs public confidence to do so.[2]

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