Keizo Obuchi

Keizo Obuchi , 1937-2000, Japanese politician, prime minister of Japan (1998-2000), b. Nakanojo. The son of a silk manufacturer and politician, Obuchi graduated from Waseda Univ. in 1962 and in 1963 was elected to the parliament seat once held by his late father. A member of the Liberal Democratic party (LDP), Obuchi rose within it to become leader of the largest party faction by 1992. In 1997 he became foreign minister in Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto 's government, and he succeeded Hashimoto as prime minister after the LDP suffered electoral losses in 1998. Known for his quiet, self-effacing style, Obuchi was able to help stabilize Japan's faltering economy and calm its divisive political wrangling. In Apr., 2000, after being incapacitated by a stroke, Obuchi was replaced as prime minister by Yoshiro Mori .

Obuchi, Keizo (b. 26 June 1937, d. 14 May 2000). Prime Minister of Japan 1998–2000 Born in Agadsuma, he inherited his father's constituency and entered the House of Representatives in 1963. He became a minister in the Post and Telecommunications Ministry, and became the Chairman of the House of Representatives' finance committee. An increasingly influential member of the Liberal Democratic Party, he became the Minister for Foreign Affairs in 1997. He succeeded Hashimoto as Prime Minister, and sought to overcome the country's recession by lowering taxation. He created a coalition with the Liberal Party and the New Kômeitô Party, in order to enable him to pass structural economic reforms. However, the coalition proved to be riven by conflicts, and on 3 April Obuchi suffered a stroke. He died the following month.