Michio Watanabe | |
|---|---|
渡辺 美智雄 | |
 Watanabe in 1993 | |
| Deputy Prime Minister of Japan | |
| In office 5 November 1991 – 7 April 1993 | |
| Prime Minister | Kiichi Miyazawa |
| Preceded by | Kiichi Miyazawa (1988) |
| Succeeded by | Masaharu Gotoda |
| Minister for Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 5 November 1991 – 7 April 1993 | |
| Prime Minister | Kiichi Miyazawa |
| Preceded by | Taro Nakayama |
| Succeeded by | Kabun Mutō |
| Minister of International Trade and Industry | |
| In office 28 December 1985 – 22 July 1986 | |
| Prime Minister | Yasuhiro Nakasone |
| Preceded by | Keijiro Murata |
| Succeeded by | Hajime Tamura |
| Minister of Finance | |
| In office 17 July 1980 – 17 November 1982 | |
| Prime Minister | Zenkō Suzuki |
| Preceded by | Noboru Takeshita |
| Succeeded by | Noboru Takeshita |
| Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries | |
| In office 7 December 1978 – 9 November 1979 | |
| Prime Minister | Masayoshi Ōhira |
| Preceded by | Ichiro Nakagawa |
| Succeeded by | Kabun Mutō |
| Minister of Health and Welfare | |
| In office 24 December 1976 – 28 November 1977 | |
| Prime Minister | Takeo Fukuda |
| Preceded by | Takashi Hayakawa |
| Succeeded by | Tatsuo Ozawa |
| Member of theHouse of Representatives | |
| In office 22 November 1963 – 15 September 1995 | |
| Preceded by | Giichi Ozeki |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished (1996) |
| Constituency | Tochigi 1st |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1923-07-28)28 July 1923 |
| Died | 15 September 1995(1995-09-15) (aged 72) Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan |
| Cause of death | Heart failure |
| Party | Liberal Democratic (1955–1995) |
| Other political affiliations | Liberal (1950–1955) |
| Spouse | Sumiko Nagayama |
| Children | Yoshimi Watanabe Michiaki Watanabe |
| Relatives | Michitaro Watanabe (grandson) |
| Alma mater | Tokyo College of Commerce |
Michio Watanabe (渡辺 美智雄,Watanabe Michio; 28 July 1923 – 15 September 1995) was a Japanesepolitical figure. He was born inŌtawara, Tochigi and graduated from the Tokyo College of Commerce (nowHitotsubashi University) in 1942.[1] He worked as a reporter for theYomiuri Shimbun, a certified tax accountant, and a member ofTochigi prefectural assembly before serving as a member ofHouse of Representatives of Japan.[citation needed]
Watanabe was a member ofSeiran-kai, a conservative faction within the LDP, from 1973 to 1976.[2] He later served asHealth Minister from 1976 to 1977,Minister of Agriculture and Forestry from 1978 to 1979, andMinister of Finance from 1980 to 1982. He served asDeputy Prime Minister of Japan andMinister for Foreign Affairs from 1991 to 1993, and made unsuccessful bids for the presidency of the Liberal Democratic Party in 1991 and 1993.[1] He gained some international notoriety for stating in 1988 that African Americans had "no qualms about not paying their bills," and for stating in 1995 that theJapanese annexation of Korea was done with Korea's consent.[1]
Although he was ideologically opposed to communist China and favored Taiwan, he made efforts as Deputy Prime Minister to facilitate diplomacy between China and Japan in the wake of the1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre, developing a relationship with the Chinese ambassador to Japan. He visited China for a meeting with foreign ministerQian Qichen in 1992, and the dialogue during this visit paved the way for EmperorAkihito to visit China later that year.[2]
He was hospitalized for gallstones in 1992, but rumors of a more serious illness spread shortly thereafter, and he resigned for health reasons in 1993. After leading a Japanese delegation to North Korea in March 1995, he died from heart failure in September 1995.[1] His eldest son,Yoshimi Watanabe, inherited his Diet seat and serves as the leader ofYour Party. His grandsonMichitaro Watanabe (the eldest son of his second son Michiaki Watanabe) is a member of theHouse of Councillors.[3]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Minister of Health and Welfare 1976–1977 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries 1978–1979 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister for Finance ofJapan 1980–1982 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of International Trade and Industry 1985–1986 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister for Foreign Affairs ofJapan 1991–1993 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Deputy Prime Minister of Japan 1991–1993 | Succeeded by |
| House of Representatives (Japan) | ||
| Preceded by Yoshimasa Sakamura | Chair, Committee on Cabinet of theHouse of Representatives 1976 | Succeeded by Keijiro Shoji |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Chair, Policy Research Council of theLiberal Democratic Party 1987–1989 | Succeeded by Keijiro Murata |
| Preceded by | Head of Seisaku Kagaku Kenkyūkai 1990–1995 | Succeeded by Yasuhiro Nakasone Interim |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Academics | |
