Who is NFP’s Hiroshi Taniguchi?

Hiroshi Taniguchi who has been living in Fiji for the past 19 years was announced last week as one of the 33 provisional candidates for the National Federation Party (NFP).

by wati talebula-nuku

17 Aug 2022 14:17

Hiroshi Taniguchi outside the National Federation Party office on August 12, 2022. Photo: Wati Talebula-Nuku

Hiroshi Taniguchi who has been living in Fiji for the past 19 years was announced last week as one of the 33 provisional candidates for the National Federation Party (NFP). He shares his insights and why he joined NFP.

Q: You Are The Director/CEO Of Free Bird Institute Ltd, Tell Me About Your Role And About The Institute.

A: It was established in 2004. We are teaching the English language to Japanese students. All of our teachers are local. Our students also live with local families. It is educational tourism. We were listed on the SPX market in 2017.

Q: What Are The Three Main Issues You Will Be Highlighting For This General Election And Why?

A: To make Fiji more organised, Fiji needs to learn from overseas when it comes to local government, proper development policy, and anti-nepotism screening.

It is not something special. Many countries have started already. For example, Japan started 1400 years ago.

I just want to plant the idea and concept in Fiji. I can make Fijians happier with ideas from Japan. We are the same, islanders.

Q: Why Did You Choose To Stand For The National Federation Party?

A: I am more neutral. I can work with any party.

What is important is the idea and not the party. Compared with Japanese politics, Fiji politics is more party conscious, and not many candidates show us their ideas. I am not standing against any political parties and any candidate.

Election is about how we compete with our ideas, not how we compete against each other. I was a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) provisional candidate in the 2014 General Election, I chose not to contest the election.

About Mr Taniguchi