Former Japanese Minister Found Dead In Vietnam Hotel Room

November 22, 2007 8:22 a.m. EST

Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam (AHN) - A former Japanese minister was found dead in a hotel room in Vietnam on Thursday, according to his colleagues at the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

Takami Eto, the 82-year-old former construction minister, was found lifeless in a hotel room in Ho Chi Minh City. The cause of the death is still unknown.

A diplomat based in the capital of Hanoi said, "We know Mr. Takami Eto has passed away in Ho Chi Minh City."

"He was found dead in his hotel room, but we don't yet know the cause of death."

Eto was reportedly in Vietnam to inspect livestock and agriculture in the country and was supposed to be back in Japan on Saturday.

No further details were provided.

Eto was a native of the Miyazaki Prefecture and served 10 terms as a member of the House of Representatives after his stint as a prefectural assembly member.

He also served as construction minister, transport minister and director general of the Management and Coordination Agency.

He was known as the Japanese minister who made remarks about the good things Japan did during the colonization of the Korean peninsula, for which he earned international criticism.