Takeshita, Noboru

▪ 2001

      Japanese politician (b. Feb. 26, 1924, Shimane prefecture, Japan—d. June 19, 2000, Tokyo, Japan), was prime minister of Japan from November 1987 to June 1989, at which time he resigned because of his involvement in an influence-peddling scandal. The son of a sake brewer, Takeshita graduated from Waseda University, Tokyo, in 1947, after which he taught high school for four years. He served seven years on the Shimane prefectural council before being elected to the lower house of the Diet (parliament) in 1958; it was the first of 11 consecutive terms. His first ministerial post was as chief cabinet secretary in 1971; he later became minister of construction and was minister of finance in 1979–80 and 1982–86. He was secretary-general of the ruling Liberal-Democratic Party (LDP) in 1986–87. In November 1987 Takeshita was handpicked for the post of president of the LDP by his predecessor, Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone; following his selection as LDP president, Takeshita became prime minister of Japan. As prime minister, Takeshita garnered support for the passage of a new national sales tax. In April 1988 he publicly disclosed that he and several aides had been among those politicians who had received stocks, donations, and loans from Recruit Co., Ltd., a Japanese telecommunications firm that had made large financial contributions to many politicians in the hope of obtaining governmental favours. Deepening public dissatisfaction with Takeshita's involvement in the scandal prompted him on April 25, 1989, to announce his intention to resign. He left office the following June, but, despite his departure from the public spotlight, he continued to wield considerable influence in the world of Japanese politics until his death.

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