Former Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Matsumoto Dies at 67 from ALS

Former Japanese House of Representatives member Takeshi Matsumoto, who served nine terms and held senior posts including foreign minister and internal affairs minister, died on July 27, 2026 at the age of 67. The cause of death was amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Matsumoto had been battling the disease since 2025, withdrew from the 2026 general election and retired from politics earlier in the year.

During his tenure in the Kishida cabinet, he promoted the rollout of the MyNumber identification card. After his death, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and several senior legislators from across parties issued statements of condolence, praising his long‑standing service to the nation.