Toshiki Kaifu

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Toshiki Kaifu (2 January 1931 – 9 January 2022) was a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister from August 1989 to November 1991. Born in Nagoya, he studied at Chuo University and Waseda University and entered politics with the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in 1960, becoming the youngest member of the Diet that year. He served as Education Minister under two prime ministers, first in 1976–1977 and again in 1985–1986.

Kaifu became prime minister after the resignations of Noboru Takeshita and Sōsuke Uno, chosen in part for his clean image. During his tenure, he worked to improve relations with China and made important contributions to Japan’s response to the Persian Gulf War. He also faced limits in enacting reforms and resigned in 1991, handing the position to Kiichi Miyazawa.

After leaving the LDP, Kaifu formed the New Frontier Party in 1994 and briefly ran for prime minister again but lost. He returned to the LDP in 2003 and remained a Diet member until losing his seat in 2009, making him one of the longest-serving lawmakers. Kaifu was married to Sachiyo Yanagihara and had two children. He died in Tokyo in January 2022 at the age of 91.