Keizo Obuchi Prime Minister Japan

Keizo Obuchi took office on July 30, 1998, as Japan's eighty-fourth prime minister.

He began his career as a politician at the young age of 26, when he was elected to the House of Representatives in November 1963. He passed through the gateway to cabinet-level positions in 1970 with an appointment as parliamentary vice-minister of posts and telecommunications, and ever since he has remained involved in affairs related to information and communications.

In November 1979, at the age of 42, he became director general of the Prime Minister's Office and director general of the Okinawa Development Agency, making him a minister of state for the first time. He returned to the cabinet in November 1987 as chief cabinet secretary in the Takeshita administration.

The Showa era (1926-89) came to an end with the passing away of Emperor Hirohito on January 7, 1989, and the Heisei era under Emperor Akihito began. It was Obuchi, serving as chief cabinet secretary, who announced the name of the new era. Many Japanese still remember seeing the broadcasts of his announcement.

Subsequently Obuchi served in three key posts: secretary general of the LDP beginning in April 1991, vice-president of the LDP beginning in July 1994, and minister for foreign affairs beginning in September 1997, his third term of service as a minister of state.

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