Watanabe, Michio

▪ 1996

      Japanese politician (b. July 28, 1923, Tochigi prefecture, Japan—d. Sept. 15, 1995, Tokyo, Japan), had a long career as an influential Liberal Democratic politician, though he never attained the prime ministership, the office he especially aspired to and made three attempts to win. His many accomplishments were often overshadowed, however, by blunt, tactless, and ill-considered comments. At various times during his career, he caused furors by, for example, stating that U.S. blacks had too casual an attitude about their debts, that many Chinese lived in holes, and that Korea had consented to its annexation by Japan in 1910. Watanabe became an accountant after graduating from Tokyo University of Commerce (now Hitotsubashi University) and later decided to enter politics. He was elected to the prefectural assembly in 1955 and to the national House of Representatives in 1963. He was reelected eight times and held that seat for the rest of his life. During his career Watanabe rose quickly through party ranks and headed most of the senior Cabinet ministries, among them Health and Welfare (1976-77), Finance (1980-82), and International Trade and Industry (1985-86). He became foreign minister and deputy prime minister, the last positions he held, in 1991, but a bout of ill health forced him to resign those posts. In 1995 Watanabe led two delegations to North Korea; one was attempting to normalize relations, and the other negotiated a deal for Japan to provide 300,000 tons of rice in emergency aid to North Korea.

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