Yōhei Kōno facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Yōhei Kōno
河野 洋平
Official portrait, 1999
Speaker of the House of Representatives
In office 19 November 2003 – 21 July 2009
Monarch	Akihito
Deputy	Kansei Nakano Takahiro Yokomichi
Preceded by	Tamisuke Watanuki
Succeeded by	Takahiro Yokomichi
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 5 October 1999 – 26 April 2001
Prime Minister	Keizo Obuchi Yoshiro Mori
Preceded by	Masahiko Kōmura
Succeeded by	Makiko Tanaka
In office 30 June 1994 – 11 January 1996
Prime Minister	Tomiichi Murayama
Preceded by	Koji Kakizawa
Succeeded by	Yukihiko Ikeda
Deputy Prime Minister of Japan
In office 30 June 1994 – 2 October 1995
Prime Minister	Tomiichi Murayama
Preceded by	Vacant
Succeeded by	Ryutaro Hashimoto
President of the Liberal Democratic Party
In office 9 August 1993 – 2 October 1995
Vice President	Keizō Obuchi
Secretary-General	Yoshirō Mori Hiroshi Mitsuzuka
Preceded by	Kiichi Miyazawa
Succeeded by	Ryutaro Hashimoto
Leader of the Opposition
In office 9 August 1993 – 30 June 1994
Prime Minister	Morihiro Hosokawa Tsutomu Hata
Preceded by	Sadao Yamahana
Succeeded by	Toshiki Kaifu
Chief Cabinet Secretary
In office 12 December 1992 – 9 August 1993
Prime Minister	Kiichi Miyazawa
Preceded by	Koichi Kato
Succeeded by	Masayoshi Takemura
Director General of the Science and Technology Agency
In office 28 December 1985 – 22 July 1986
Prime Minister	Yasuhiro Nakasone
Preceded by	Reiichi Takeuchi
Succeeded by	Yataro Mitsubayashi
Member of the House of Representatives
In office 29 January 1967 – 21 July 2009
Preceded by	Multi-member district
Succeeded by	Yōsuke Kamiyama
Constituency	Kanagawa 3rd (1967–1976) Kanagawa 5th (1976–1996) Kanagawa 17th (1996–2009)
Personal details
Born	(1937-01-15) 15 January 1937 (age 88) Hiratsuka, Kanagawa, Japan
Political party	Liberal Democratic (before 1976; 1986–present)
Other political affiliations	New Liberal Club (1976–1986)
Children	Tarō Kōno
Parent	Ichirō Kōno (father)
Alma mater	Waseda University

Yōhei Kōno (河野 洋平, Kōno Yōhei, born 15 January 1937) is a Japanese politician. He was the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party. He also served as the Speaker of the House of Representatives from November 2003 to August 2009. This was the longest time anyone held that position since 1890.

Early Life and Education

Yōhei Kōno was born on January 15, 1937. His birthplace was Hiratsuka, Kanagawa, in Japan. His father, Ichirō Kōno, was also a politician. His father served as a deputy prime minister. He was also in charge of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Yōhei Kōno's uncle, Kenzō Kōno, was the head of the House of Councillors from 1971 to 1977.

Kōno went to Waseda University Senior High School. After that, he studied Economics at Waseda University. After finishing university, Kōno worked for the Marubeni company. In 1967, his father passed away. This led Yōhei Kōno to begin his own career in politics.

Political Career and Roles

Kono with members of Murayama Reshuffled Cabinet (at the Prime Minister's Official Residence on 8 August 1995).

Yōhei Kōno held many important roles in the Japanese government. He was the Deputy Prime Minister of Japan from 1994 to 1995. During this time, he had a strong influence in the government led by Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama.

He also served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He held this position under Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama and Yoshirō Mori. These terms were from 1993 to 1995 and again from 1999 to 2001.

Kōno is a member of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). He was the President of the LDP from 1993 to 1995. He is one of only two LDP leaders who never became the Prime Minister of Japan. Kōno was known for being friendly towards China. In 2005, he faced pressure in Japan. This happened when anti-Japanese feelings grew in China. This was because the Prime Minister at the time, Junichiro Koizumi, visited the Yasukuni Shrine. Kōno did not agree with this visit.