Yasuko Hatoyama (鳩山 安子 Hatoyama Yasuko, born September 11, 1922) is the widow of former Japanese Foreign Minister Iichirō Hatoyama and heir to the Bridgestone Corporation fortune. She is the mother of former Prime Minister of Japan Yukio Hatoyama and Diet member Kunio Hatoyama.
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Hatoyama was born Yasuko Ishibashi (石橋 安子) in present-day Kurume, Fukuoka. Her father Shojiro Ishibashi founded the Bridgestone Corporation, the world's largest tiremaker,[1] in 1930. She became heir to Ishibashi's considerable inheritance upon his death.[1] She attended middle and high school in Tokyo, during which time she met former Iichirō Hatoyama, who later became Foreign Minister. They were married at the Imperial Hotel, Tokyo in 1942.
The couple had two sons, both of whom have pursued successful political careers. Kunio Hatoyama served as the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications under Prime Minister Taro Aso.[1] Yukio Hatoyama defeated Aso in the 2009 general election and became the Prime Minister.[1]
The Hatoyama family has been called "Japan's Kennedy family".[2]
As of 2010, Hatoyama resides in a home for the elderly adjacent to St. Luke's International Hospital in Chuo, Tokyo.
Hatoyama had contributed significant amounts of her inheritance to help finance the political and career goals of both her sons.[1] She donated billions of yen in 1996 when her two sons, Kunio and Yukio, co-founded the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ).[1] Her contributions helped to fund and establish the new political party.[1] She is nicknamed "Godmother" within the Japanese political world for her financial contributions to the political ambitions of her family.[1]