Toshiki Kaifu facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Toshiki Kaifu
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海部 俊樹
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Official photograph, 1989
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| Prime Minister of Japan | |
| In office 10 August 1989 – 5 November 1991 |
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| Monarch | Akihito |
| Preceded by | Sōsuke Uno |
| Succeeded by | Kiichi Miyazawa |
| Member of the House of Representatives for Aichi 9th District |
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| In office 20 November 1960 – 21 July 2009 |
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| Succeeded by | Mitsunori Okamoto |
| Minister of Finance | |
| In office 14 October 1991 – 5 November 1991 |
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| Preceded by | Ryutaro Hashimoto |
| Succeeded by | Tsutomu Hata |
| Minister of Education | |
| In office 28 December 1985 – 22 July 1986 |
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| Prime Minister | Yasuhiro Nakasone |
| Preceded by | Hikaru Matsunaga |
| Succeeded by | Masayuki Fujio |
| In office 24 December 1976 – 28 November 1977 |
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| Prime Minister | Takeo Fukuda |
| Preceded by | Michio Nagai |
| Succeeded by | Shigetami Sunada |
| Preceded by | Seiroku Kajiyama |
| Succeeded by | Hyosuke Kujiraoka |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 January 1931 Nagoya, Empire of Japan |
| Died | 9 January 2022 (aged 91) Tokyo, Japan |
| Political party | Liberal Democratic Party (1960–1994, 2003–2022) |
| Other political affiliations |
New Frontier Party (1994–1997) "Assembly of Independents" (1997–1998) Liberal Party (1998–2000) New Conservative Party (2000–2003) |
| Spouse | Sachiyo Kaifu |
| Alma mater | Chuo University Waseda University |
| Signature |  |
Toshiki Kaifu (born 2 January 1931 – died 9 January 2022) was an important Japanese politician. He served as the 77th Prime Minister of Japan from 1989 to 1991.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Toshiki Kaifu was born on January 2, 1931, in Nagoya City, Japan. He was the oldest of six brothers. His family owned a photo studio that his grandfather started a long time ago, during the Meiji era.
When he was young, Kaifu tried to get into a special high school. He was not accepted at first. During World War II, he worked in a factory. He helped build parts for airplane engines. In 1945, he was accepted into a youth airman academy. But the war ended before he could start. He later studied at Chuo University and Waseda University.
On November 17, 1957, Toshiki Kaifu married Sachiyo Yanagihara.
Political Career
Kaifu was a member of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). In 1960, he won an election and became the youngest member of the National Diet. The National Diet is Japan's parliament. He served in the Diet for 48 years, across sixteen terms.
Before becoming Prime Minister, Kaifu was the Minister of Education. He became the leader of his party after two previous leaders resigned. He promised to bring honest leadership to the government. In August 1989, he became the 76th Prime Minister of Japan.
Important Actions as Prime Minister
On August 10, 1991, Kaifu became the first leader of a major country to visit China after the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre. This visit helped end China's isolation from other countries. Japan also offered financial help to China during this time.
In 1991, he sent Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force to the Persian Gulf. This happened after the Gulf War. It was an important step for Japan's role in international affairs.
During his time as Prime Minister, Kaifu faced some political challenges. His group within the party was small, which made it hard to pass new laws. He resigned in November 1991. Kiichi Miyazawa took over as Prime Minister.
After the Prime Ministership
In 1994, Kaifu left the LDP. He became the head of a new party called the New Frontier Party. He supported this party for a few years. In 2003, he returned to the LDP.
In the 2009 election, Kaifu lost his seat in the Diet. This was a big moment because the LDP had been in power for a very long time. At that time, he was the longest-serving member of the lower house of the Diet. He was also the first former prime minister to lose a re-election since 1963.
Later Life and Death
Toshiki Kaifu was the last living former Japanese prime minister who had served in the 1980s. He passed away from pneumonia on January 9, 2022. He was 91 years old and died at a hospital in Tokyo. The news of his death was announced to the public a few days later, on January 14.
See also
In Spanish: Toshiki Kaifu para niños
