Hosokawa in poor health

 May 15, 2014

Ex-PM Hosokawa to suspend antinuclear activities due to poor health

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20140515p2g00m0dm083000c.html 

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Former Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa, who unsuccessfully ran in the Tokyo gubernatorial race in February as an opponent of nuclear power, will suspend his activities with an antinuclear nonprofit organization for the time being due to poor health, people familiar with the matter said Thursday.

The 76-year-old former lawmaker has not been feeling well since late March and found it necessary to rest, they said, adding he will undergo a medical checkup next Monday.

Hosokawa has just become the head of the Japan Assembly for Nuclear Free Renewable Energy, which he established with former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on May 7. The two former leaders joined forces to promote the antinuclear cause in the Tokyo governor's race.

While on an outing in late March, Hosokawa collapsed on the first of two occasions and suffered bruises to his face, according to the sources. He has continued to suffer from ill health, including dizziness, they said.

At a recent meeting, Hosokawa had confided that he was not feeling well.

A person close to Hosokawa said the former prime minister had been busy even after the gubernatorial election, expressing hope that he will get better with rest.

Hosokawa will remain the head of the antinuclear organization, but has offered to step down from his posts at the Tohoku University of Art and Design in the city of Yamagata, and its sister school, the Kyoto University of Art and Design, in the city of Kyoto, according to the sources.

May 15, 2014(Mainichi Japan)