Politics · Japan · 2 hrs ago
Former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda dies at 90
Former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda has died at 90.
He was Japan’s first prime minister whose father had also held the office.
Fukuda took office in 2007 after Shinzo Abe resigned, but he stepped down in 2008 after struggling with a divided parliament that stalled legislation.
He worked to strengthen ties between Japan and China, visiting China and inviting its president, Hu Jintao, to Japan.
Hu’s 2008 visit was the first by a Chinese head of state in a decade, at a time when relations had been strained by former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s visits to Tokyo’s Yasukuni shrine.
Fukuda’s diplomatic efforts focused on improving relations with a key neighbour.
His son Tatsuo is a lawmaker who has been viewed as a possible future prime minister.
Former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda has died at 90, Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party said.
He died on Oct. 22 from heart failure, according to a report by the Nikkei business daily cited by the Straits Times.
Fukuda served as prime minister from September 2007 until September 2008, during a period of political deadlock.
He worked to improve relations with China and invited Chinese President Hu Jintao to Japan.
Fukuda was the first Japanese prime minister whose father had also held the post.
- Who
- Yasuo Fukuda, former Japanese prime minister.
- What
- He died at 90. The Nikkei business daily reported he died from heart failure.
- When
- Oct. 22, according to the Nikkei report cited by the Straits Times.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- Not stated; the cause of death was reported as heart failure.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Fukuda became prime minister after Shinzo Abe resigned.
Fukuda visited China, three months after taking office.
Chinese President Hu Jintao visited Japan at Fukuda’s invitation.
Fukuda’s one-year term as prime minister ended.
Fukuda died, according to the Nikkei report cited by the Straits Times.
- Age
- 90
- Death date
- Oct. 22
- Cause of death
- Heart failure, according to the Nikkei report cited by the Straits Times
- Prime minister
- September 2007 to September 2008
- China visit
- Fukuda visited China three months after becoming prime minister
- Chinese state visit
- Hu Jintao visited Japan in May 2008