TOKYO (CNN) -- The 60-year-old Ryutaro Hashimoto launched his coalition in January 1996 vowing to "go down in flames" if he failed to carry out economic and other reforms needed in Japan.

Hashimoto's first act was to launch his "Big Bang" financial reform package aimed at opening up Japan's financial markets by 2001.

His approval ratings quickly soared to record levels.

Then, last fall, his popularity began to slide when he came under fire for appointing an ex-convict and old-style LDP politician to serve in his second Cabinet. The appointee resigned.

A succession of financial crises followed, including a bribery scandal within the finance ministry. The incidents -- combined with Japan slipping into its worst recession since World War II -- has led public support of Hashimoto's government to erode to new lows each month.

A career politician, Hashimoto began his climb to the top in 1989, joining the Cabinet as finance minister.

About a year later, he was forced to resign and take blame for his ministry's failure to prevent a string of finance scandals.

He kept a low profile for several years, then returned to the Cabinet as trade minister in 1994.

Hashimoto has been denounced as a chain smoker, womanizer and closet apologist for Japan's actions during World War II.

Reuters contributed to this report.