Wataru Kubo

Wataru Kubo
久保 亘
Minister of Finance
In office
5 January 1996 – 7 November 1996
Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto
Preceded by Masayoshi Takemura
Succeeded by Hiroshi Mitsuzuka
Deputy Prime Minister of Japan
In office
5 January 1996 – 7 November 1996
Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto
Preceded by Ryutaro Hashimoto
Succeeded by Vacant
Personal details
Born 15 January 1929
Kagoshima, Empire of Japan
Died 24 June 2003(2003-06-24) (aged 74)
Kagoshima, Japan
Political party Social Democratic Party (1963-97)
Democratic Party of Japan (1997-2001)
Alma mater Hiroshima University of Literature and Science

Wataru Kubo (久保 亘 Kubo Wataru, 15 January 1929 – 24 June 2003) was a Japanese politician from the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and then from Democratic Party of Japan. He served as deputy prime minister and finance minister of Japan from 5 January 1996 to 7 November 1996.

Early life and education

Kubo was born in Kagoshima Prefecture on 15 January 1929.[1] He received a bachelor's degree from Hiroshima University of Literature and Science, now part of Hiroshima University, in 1952.[1]

Career

Kubo started his career as a high-school teacher.[2] Then he involved in politics, and in 1963, he was elected to the Kagoshima Prefectural Assembly where he served for three terms.[1] He was first elected to the upper house in July 1974 from Kagoshima.[3][4] Until 1993 he served as chairman and a member of different committees at the house, including the budget and finance committee in the upper house.[1][5] In September 1993, he was named as secretary general of the Social Democratic Party during the term of the party chief Tomiichi Murayama.[4][6] He was also chief finance policy strategist[7] and deputy chairman of the party.[8][9]

He served as vice prime minister and finance minister from 5 January to 7 November 1996 in the first cabinet of Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto that was a coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party, the SDP and New Party Sakigake.[4][10] Kubo's term ended when Hashimoto inaugurated his second cabinet and the coalition parties SPD and New Party Sakigake remained outside the government.[11] Kubo was succeeded by Hiroshi Mitsuzuka as finance minister.[11]

Kubo left the SPD on 6 January 1997 due to the disagreements with the SPD chief Takako Doi.[12][13] After his resignation, Kubo joined the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ).[9] Then he became a member of the upper house with the DPJ.[3] He retired from politics as a member of the DPJ in June 2001 after serving four terms at the upper house, being a representative of Kagoshima Prefecture.[4][6]

Personal life

Kubo had a high rank in kendo.[5] He received the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun, Japan's top award for contributions to the state and society, in November 2001.[14]

Death

Kubo died at a hospital in Kagoshima on 24 June 2003.[6] He was 74.[14]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Lyon Summit Information". Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  2. ↑ Richard Lloyd Parry (12 January 1996). "Socialist Teacher to Run Japan's Finances". The Independent. Tokyo. Retrieved 24 January 2014. – via Questia (subscription required)
  3. 1 2 "Kubo says DPJ still no alternative for current coalition". Kyodo News. 26 June 2001. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Ex-Japan Socialist Party's Kubo Dies". Asia Africa Intelligence Wire. Tokyo. Jiji Press. 26 June 2003. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  5. 1 2 Wudunn, Sheryl (12 January 1996). "Japan Names A Socialist as Finance Chief". The New York Times. p. 2.
  6. 1 2 3 "Obituary: Wataru Kubo". The Japan Times. 27 June 2003. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  7. ↑ "International Business". Los Angeles Times. 11 January 1996. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  8. ↑ Sterngold, James (11 July 1993). "Japan's socialists moving to center". The New York Times. p. 9.
  9. 1 2 "Veteran politician Kubo to quit politics". Kyodo News. Kagoshima. 28 December 2001. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  10. ↑ "January 1996". Rulers. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  11. 1 2 "New cabinet inaugurated". Trends in Japan. 8 November 1996. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  12. ↑ "Kubo leads more key defectors from SDP". The Japan Times. 6 January 1997. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  13. ↑ "Asia Week". CNN. 17 January 1997. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  14. 1 2 "Kubo, former vice premier, dies at 74". Kyodo News. Tokyo. 26 June 2003. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
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