Personal life and death

Nakamura was married to his wife Elong Nakamura for over 50 years. His brother, Mamoru Nakamura, was named chief justice of Palau in 1981.

Nakamura died on 14 October 2020 at the age of 76. He was elected to the Senate of Palau in 1980. He served as Vice-President from January 1989 to January 1993. 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. He served two terms, being re-elected in 1996 by a 64%-36% margin over Ibedul Yutaka Gibbons. 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.

References

  • Grassroots president mulls legacy