22 Facts About Takeo Fukuda

Takeo Fukuda was a Japanese politician who served as prime minister of Japan from 1976 to 1978.

Takeo Fukuda was succeeded as premier in 1978 by Masayoshi Ohira.

Takeo Fukuda was born in the village of Kaneko in Gunma prefecture on January 14,1905, the second son to an old samurai family who had been village headmen in the Edo period.

Takeo Fukuda was a gifted student who went on to First Higher School in Tokyo, followed by studying law at Tokyo Imperial University.

Takeo Fukuda received the top score on the civil service examination and entered the Ministry of Finance upon graduating in 1929.

Takeo Fukuda was assigned as financial attache to the embassy of Japan in London the following year.

At the time of the Japanese surrender, Takeo Fukuda was chief secretary and head of the Minister's Secretariat.

Takeo Fukuda became chief of the Banking Bureau in 1946 and by 1947 he had risen to chief of the Budget Bureau.

Takeo Fukuda was later acquitted, but the incident led him to resign from the Ministry in 1950.

Takeo Fukuda grew close to Nobusuke Kishi, who was making a political comeback.

Takeo Fukuda joined the Liberal Party along with Kishi in 1953 and when Kishi was expelled the following year Fukuda left with him and took part in forming the Democratic Party.

Takeo Fukuda joined the cabinet in June as Minister of Agriculture, remaining until the Kishi was forced to resign as prime minister due to the massive 1960 Anpo protests against the US-Japan Security treaty.

Takeo Fukuda again became chairman of the Policy Research Council in December 1960.

In January 1962, Takeo Fukuda formed the "Party Spirit Renovation League", which became a forum for Diet members to air anti-Ikeda grievances.

Kishi disbanded the faction in July 1962 and all but the group close to Kawashima joined Takeo Fukuda, who became Kishi's de facto successor as factional leader.

Takeo Fukuda rose to the prestigious posts of Minister of Finance and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Takeo Fukuda remained in office until 1978, but was forced to rely on the support of minor parties to maintain a parliamentary majority.

In matters of Sino-Japanese relations, Takeo Fukuda began as one of the LDP's conservative pro-Taiwan voices.

The primary dispute was China's insistence on the treaty to contain an "anti-hegemony clause" which Japan viewed as being directed towards the Soviet Union, and Takeo Fukuda did not wish Japan to become involved in the Sino-Soviet schism.

Takeo Fukuda was later instrumental in the formation of the Inter Action Council.

Takeo Fukuda was married and had five children: three sons and two daughters.

Takeo Fukuda died of chronic emphysema in the hospital of Tokyo Women's Medical College on 5 July 1995 at the age of 90.