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Kuniwo Nakamura

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His Excellency
Kuniwo Nakamura
中村國雄 / 中村邦夫
Nakamura in 2007
6th President of Palau
In office
1 January 1993 – 1 January 2001
Vice PresidentTommy Remengesau
Preceded byNgiratkel Etpison
Succeeded byTommy Remengesau
3rd Vice President of Palau
In office
1 January 1989 – 1 January 1993
PresidentNgiratkel Etpison
Preceded byThomas Remengesau Sr.
Succeeded byTommy Remengesau
Justice Minister of Palau
In office
1992 – 1 January 1993
PresidentNgiratkel Etpison
Preceded byVacant, held by Ngiratkel Etpison
Succeeded bySalvador Ingereklii
Minister of Administration of Palau
In office
January 1989 – 1992
PresidentNgiratkel Etpison
Preceded byFranz Reksid
Succeeded bySandra Pierantozzi
Personal details
Born(1943-11-24)24 November 1943
Peleliu, South Seas Mandate
Died14 October 2020(2020-10-14) (aged 76)[1]
Koror, Palau
SpouseElong Nakamura

Kuniwo Nakamura (中村國雄, Nakamura Kunio, 24 November 1943 – 14 October 2020)[2][1] was a Palauan politician who served as the President of Palau from 1993 to 2001. He had earlier served as Vice President of Palau from 1989 to 1993, under Ngiratkel Etpison.

Background and early life

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Nakamura was the son of a Japanese immigrant from Matsusaka, Ise Province and a Palauan chieftain's daughter. He was studying in his second year of primary school when the surrender of Japan ended World War II. He graduated from high school under the U.S. occupation of Palau and went on to study at the University of Hawaii.[3]

Personal life and death

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Nakamura was married to his wife Elong Nakamura for over 50 years.[4] They had children.[4] Elong later died on 17 November 2018 the age of 71.[4]

Nakamura died on 14 October 2020 at the age of 76.[1]

Career

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Nakamura began his political career at the age of 28, becoming the youngest person to be elected to the Congress of Micronesia.[5] He was elected to the Senate of Palau in 1980. He served as Vice-President from January 1989 to January 1993.[6] He held the additional role of Minister of Administration from 1989 to 1992, when President Ngiratkel Etpison appointed other members of the cabinet. At that time Nakamura was appointed to the additional role of Minister of Justice.

Nakamura was first elected president in the 1992 elections; he attracted 3,125 votes, versus 2,084 for one-term incumbent Ngiratkel Etpison and 3,188 for rival Johnson Toribiong, and then went on to defeat Toribiong in the runoff.[7] He served two terms, being re-elected in 1996 by a 64%-36% margin over Ibedul Yutaka Gibbons.[8] He did not run in the 2000 elections, but backed his vice-president Tommy Remengesau, who emerged victorious by a 53%-47% margin against senator Peter Sugiyama.[5]

Honors

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In December 2021, the Taiwanese government paid for a statue of him in Peleliu for his role in establishing Palau–Taiwan relations.[9]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Former president of Palau, Kuniwo Nakamura, dies". Pasific Daily News. 14 October 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  2. ^ Micronesia, Pacific Islands (Trust Territory) Congress of (December 28, 1975). "Congressional Directory". Mariana Islands, Publications Division. – via Google Books.
  3. ^ Utagawa, Reizo (1999), "Republic of Palau Travelogue: My Way in 'Wonder Islands', No Longer the South Sea Islands" (PDF), Wave of Pacifika, 6: 5–7, retrieved 2010-11-22
  4. ^ a b c Times, Island (December 4, 2018). "Former First Lady Elong Nakamura honored". Island Times. Archived from the original on December 29, 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Remengesau clear winner in Palau presidential race", Kyodo News, 2000-11-09, retrieved 2010-11-22
  6. ^ Past Vice Presidents Archived 2008-12-02 at the Wayback Machine Republic of Palau
  7. ^ Hassall, Graham; Saunders, Cheryl (2002), Asia-Pacific constitutional systems, Cambridge University Press, p. 93, ISBN 978-0-521-59129-4
  8. ^ Nohlen, D, Grotz, F & Hartmann, C (2001) Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume II, p757 ISBN 0-19-924959-8
  9. ^ Team, Internet. "Family Unveils Statue of Palau Late President Kuniwo Nakamura". Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in the Republic of Palau 駐帛琉共和國大使館. Archived from the original on December 29, 2023.
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Political offices
Preceded by Justice Minister of Palau
1992-1993 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Vice-President of Palau
1989–1993 		Succeeded by
Preceded by President of Palau
1993–2001 		Succeeded by


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