Keizo Obuchi

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Keizo Obuchi
84th Prime Minister of Japan
In office July 30, 1998 – April 5, 2000
Preceded by	Hashimoto Ryutaro
Succeeded by	Yoshiro Mori
Born	June 25, 1937 Gunma Prefecture, Japan
Died	May 14, 2000 (age 63)
Political party	Liberal Democratic Party
Spouse	Chizuko Ono
Religion	Shinto

Keizo Obuchi (小渕恵三; Obuchi Keizō June 25, 1937–May 14, 2000) was a Japanese politician who served in the House of Representatives for twelve terms, and ultimately as the 84th Prime Minister of Japan from July 30, 1998 to April 5, 2000. His political career ended when he suffered a serious and ultimately fatal stroke.

[edit] Early life

He was born in Nakanojo Town, Gunma Prefecture. At the age of 13, he transferred to a private middle school in Tokyo, and lived in the city for the rest of his life. In 1958, he enrolled at Waseda University as an English literature major, in hopes of becoming a writer. When his father died that same year, he decided to follow in the old man's footsteps, so he changed his major to political science and graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in 1962.

Between January and September 1963, he traveled to thirty-eight countries, completely circumnavigating the globe and taking odd jobs as he went. While in the United States, he met Robert F. Kennedy by walking into the attorney general's office.

[edit] Political career

That November, inspired by his talk with Kennedy, he ran for the House of Representatives and was elected to a seat representing Gunma Prefecture, making him the youngest legislator in Japanese history at 26 years of age. He served his first term in the Diet while pursuing graduate studies at Waseda.

In 1979, he became the director of the prime minister's office and director of the Okinawa Development Agency, his first cabinet post. He served there for eight years before becoming Chief Cabinet Secretary in 1987. He became famous two years later, upon the death of Emperor Hirohito, when he publicly announced the new era name "Heisei" for the new emperor Akihito.

In 1991, he became secretary general of the LDP, and in 1994 became its vice president. In 1997, Ryutaro Hashimoto appointed Obuchi as Minister of Foreign Affairs, where he shone in negotiations with Russia over Japanese claims in the Kuril Islands, as well as negotiations over the unification of Korea.

In 1998, Obuchi's time came: he became prime minister in the LDP's election. During his term, he was focused on two major issues: signing a peace treaty with Russia, and reviving the Japanese economy. His solution to the latter was to increase public spending, which briefly slowed the recession but ultimately did very little to turn it around. His Russia policy also eluded implementation before his death.

Obuchi was known in Japan as gakeppuchi Obuchi (崖っぷち小渕) "Obuchi on the brink," because of the precarious state of Japan's economy.

Obuchi suffered a stroke on April 1, 2000 and slipped into a coma at Tokyo's Juntendo University Hospital. He was replaced by Yoshiro Mori on April 5, and died on May 14 at the age of 62; a state funeral was held in his honor at the Nippon Budokan on June 8, and was attended by many foreign dignitaries.

The way in which the government avoided commenting honestly on Obuchi's serious medical condition, and for political reasons presented the situation as one in which Obuchi was still in control, brought negative criticism on the governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

[edit] Personal life

Obuchi married environmental essayist Chizuko Ono in 1967: they were introduced by Tomisaburo Hashimoto, a Diet member and relative of Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto.

They had one son and two daughters. Their younger daughter, Yuko Obuchi, ran for and was elected to the former prime minister's Diet seat in the 2000 elections.

Preceded by Kiichi Miyazawa	Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan 1987–1989	Succeeded by Masajuro Shiokawa
Preceded by Yukihiko Ikeda	Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan 1997–1998	Succeeded by Masahiko Komura
Preceded by Gerhard Schröder	Chair of the G8 2000	Succeeded by Mikio Aoki

Preceded by Ryutaro Hashimoto

Prime Minister of Japan 1998-2000

Succeeded by Yoshiro Mori

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