Yōhei Kōno facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Yōhei Kōno
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河野 洋平
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Official portrait, 1999
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| Speaker of the House of Representatives | |
| In office 19 November 2003 – 21 July 2009 |
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| 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 |
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| Preceded by | Masahiko Kōmura |
| Succeeded by | Makiko Tanaka |
| In office 30 June 1994 – 11 January 1996 |
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| Preceded by | Koji Kakizawa |
| Succeeded by | Yukihiko Ikeda |
| Deputy Prime Minister of Japan | |
| In office 30 June 1994 – 2 October 1995 |
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| Preceded by | Tsutomu Hata |
| Succeeded by | Ryutaro Hashimoto |
| President of the Liberal Democratic Party | |
| In office 9 August 1993 – 2 October 1995 |
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| Secretary-General |
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| Preceded by | Kiichi Miyazawa |
| Succeeded by | Ryutaro Hashimoto |
| Leader of the Opposition | |
| In office 9 August 1993 – 30 June 1994 |
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| Preceded by | Sadao Yamahana |
| Succeeded by | Toshiki Kaifu |
| Chief Cabinet Secretary | |
| In office 12 December 1992 – 9 August 1993 |
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| Preceded by | Koichi Kato |
| Succeeded by | Masayoshi Takemura |
| Director-General of the Science and Technology Agency | |
| In office 28 December 1985 – 22 July 1986 |
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| Preceded by | Reiichi Takeuchi |
| Succeeded by | Yataro Mitsubayashi |
| Member of the House of Representatives | |
| In office 29 January 1967 – 21 July 2009 |
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| Preceded by | Ichirō Kōno |
| Succeeded by | Yōsuke Kamiyama |
| Constituency | Kanagawa 3rd (1967–1976) Kanagawa 5th (1976–1996) Kanagawa 17th (1996–2009) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 January 1937 Hiratsuka, Kanagawa, Japan |
| Died | 8 June 2026 (aged 89) |
| Political party | Liberal Democratic (before 1976; 1986–present) |
| Children | Taro Kono |
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| Relatives | Kenzō Kōno (uncle) Seiichi Tagawa (cousin) |
| Alma mater | Waseda University |
Yōhei Kōno (河野 洋平, Kōno Yōhei) was an important Japanese politician. He was born on January 15, 1937, and passed away on June 8, 2026. Mr. Kōno once led the Liberal Democratic Party, a major political group in Japan.
He served as the Speaker of Japan's House of Representatives from November 2003 to August 2009. This role is like being the main leader of the country's parliament. He held this position longer than anyone else since the House of Representatives began in 1890. Mr. Kōno also led the Japan Association of Athletics Federations from 1999 to 2013, helping with sports in Japan.
Yōhei Kōno's Early Life and School Days
Yōhei Kōno was born in Hiratsuka, Kanagawa, Japan, on January 15, 1937. He was the oldest son of Ichirō Kōno, who was also a politician. His father was a deputy prime minister. He even helped organize the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Yōhei Kōno's uncle, Kenzō Kōno, was also a leader in government. He was the president of the House of Councillors from 1971 to 1977.
After finishing high school, Yōhei Kōno went to Waseda University. He studied Economics there. After college, he worked for a company called Marubeni. In 1967, he started his own political journey. This happened after his father passed away.
Yōhei Kōno's Journey in Politics
Mr. Kōno held many important roles in the Japanese government. He was the Deputy Prime Minister of Japan from 1994 to 1995. This meant he was the second-in-command to the Prime Minister. He also served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He held this position under Prime Ministers Tomiichi Murayama and Yoshirō Mori.
He was a long-time member of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). He even served as the President of the LDP from 1993 to 1995. It is interesting that he was a party leader but never became Prime Minister himself. Mr. Kōno was known for his views on international relations. He believed in strong ties with China.
Promoting Historical Understanding
Mr. Kōno is remembered for an important statement he made in 1993. As Chief Cabinet Secretary, he acknowledged the Imperial Japanese Army's role in establishing certain facilities during wartime. He also recognized the challenges faced by women involved. This statement encouraged more historical research and education about these events. His efforts helped ensure these topics were discussed in school history textbooks. He believed it was important to learn from the past.
