Former Japanese PM dies; Nation's leaders pay respects

Takeshita long considered a kingmaker

June 19, 2000
Web posted at: 3:01 p.m. HKT (0701 GMT)

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From staff and wire reports

TOKYO -- Former Japanese Prime Minister Noboru Takeshita, who resigned amid scandal in 1989 but remained a political power broker, died Monday. He was 76.

A wake was to be held at a Tokyo temple on Tuesday evening, and a private family funeral was planned for Wednesday afternoon. Takeshita was survived by a wife and three daughters.

Takeshita, who had led the Liberal Democratic Party, died of respiratory failure at 12:53 a.m. (1553 GMT) after a lengthy illness, said a Kitazato Hospital spokesperson.

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The former prime minister had been hospitalized for nearly a year, initially for back problems. However, little information had been released about Takeshita's health.

He officially retired last month, and gave his parliamentary seat to his brother. His retirement speech was recorded by aides, and part of it was played over national television.

Prime ministerial mentor

Despite his long absence from the spotlight, Takeshita was generally regarded as one of the most powerful political figures in the nation.

"He was the scenario writer of Japanese politics," former LDP secretary-general Koichi Kato said. Takeshita was widely credited with mentoring three subsequent prime ministers -- Sosuke Ono, Toshiki Kaifu and Keizo Obuchi.

"There was no other politician who has trained so many people in the political world," Japanese Finance Minister Kiichi Miyazawa said.

It was believed Takeshita -- long considered a "shadow, shogun," or behind-the-scene fixer, and who remained a major force within the ruling LDP -- had handpicked Ono and Kaifu for the prime minister's office.

Takeshita also mentored Obuchi, who was prime minister for nearly two years until he suffered a stroke in April. He died in May. Takeshita handed control of the government's largest coalition faction to Obuchi in the mid 1990s, but remained a major player within the ranks.

On Monday, Mikio Aoki, a top government spokesman, canceled a campaign trip in western Japan and was scheduled to return to Japan. Lower house elections have been called for June 25.

Little impact on election

"(Takeshita's death) is truly regrettable," Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori said. "At least, I had hoped he would firmly keep watch over the election."

Mori's personal popularity has slipped in recent weeks, and 44 percent of voters have said they are undecided about which party to vote for.

Analysts, however, said Takeshita's death wouldn't have much impact on the vote, because he had already retired from politics.

LDP Secretary-General Hiromu Nonaka visited Takeshita's home. The former prime minister's body had been transported there earlier in the day.

The son of a sake brewer, Takeshita graduated from Tokyo's prestigious Waseda University, and was first elected in 1958. He rose through the LDP's ranks -- he served as chief Cabinet secretary and held the finance and construction portfolios -- under former Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka's guidance.

Takeshita served as prime minister for almost two years beginning in 1987, but was forced to step down after admitting his participation in a stocks-for- favors scandal involving the Recruit Co.

While Takeshita was never charged, he also was never able to free himself of allegations of bribery and other abuses of power. In 1989, one of his aides committed suicide, prompting speculation he had chosen death over exposing his boss' wrongdoing.

The major achievement of Takeshita's administration was the implementation of a sales tax, which was widely unpopular at the time. Implementation of that tax, combined with the scandals, led to the government's stunning upper house election loss in 1989.

Tokyo Bureau Chief Marina Kamimura, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

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