Profile of Former Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi

Keizo Obuchi was born on June 25, 1937 in Gunma Prefecture.

In March 1962, he graduated from Waseda University and thereupon entered the Graduate School of Political Science at the same university.

In November 1963, he ran in the 30th General Election and was elected to the House of Representatives at the age of 26 as its youngest member.

In November 1979, he was appointed to his first Cabinet position as Director-General of the Prime Minister's Office and Director-General of the Okinawa Development Agency in the second Ohira Cabinet.

In November 1987, he was appointed Chief Cabinet Secretary of the Takeshita Cabinet.

Following the passing of the Emperor Showa in January 1989, he announced the name of the new reign: Heisei.

In April 1991, he assumed the office of Secretary-General of the Liberal Democratic Party.

In July 1994, he assumed the office of Vice-President of the Liberal Democratic Party.

In September 1997, he joined the second Hashimoto Cabinet as Foreign Minister.

In December 1997, he participated in the signing of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction held in Ottawa, Canada.

In July 1998, Mr. Obuchi became Prime Minister and focused his energies on the revitalization of the economy, the single most important challenge which faced the Obuchi Cabinet.

In October 1998, he signed the Japan-Republic of Korea Joint Declaration, laying the foundations for the development of forward-looking bilateral relations.

In November 1998, he announced the "Japan-China Joint Declaration on Building a Partnership of Friendship and Cooperation for Peace and Development."

In April 1999, he made the decision to hold the year 2000 Summit Meeting in Kyushu and Okinawa.

In June 1999, he attended the Summit Meeting held in Cologne, Germany.

In November 1999, he presided at the ceremonies feting the tenth anniversary of His Majesty's accession to the throne.

In January 2000, the report of the Prime Minister's Commission on Japan's Goals in the 21st Century was completed.

On May 14, 2000, Mr. Obuchi passed away at the age of 62. He was posthumously awarded the Second Senior Court Rank and the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum.