Toshiki Kaifu

1. Overview

Toshiki Kaifu (海部 俊樹_{Kaifu Toshiki}^Japanese) was a prominent Japanese politician who served as the Prime Minister of Japan from August 10, 1989, to November 5, 1991. A figure known for his clean political image amidst a period of significant scandals, Kaifu navigated Japan through the end of the Cold War and the Gulf War, while also attempting to introduce crucial political reforms. His career spanned nearly five decades, during which he held various ministerial portfolios, including two terms as Minister of Education and a brief stint as Minister of Finance. Despite his relatively weak power base within the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), he was chosen for the premiership due to his perceived integrity. Kaifu later departed from the LDP to lead the New Frontier Party, a rare move for a former LDP president, before eventually rejoining his former party. This article details his life, political career, policy initiatives, and lasting legacy in Japanese politics, reflecting a critical perspective on the challenges he faced in implementing reforms and Japan's international contributions during his tenure.

2. Life and Background

Toshiki Kaifu's personal background and early life experiences significantly shaped his path into politics, providing him with a unique foundation that emphasized integrity and hard work.

3. Early Political Career

Kaifu's entry into politics was marked by his dedication and a unique set of circumstances that propelled him into the National Diet at a remarkably young age.

On March 29, 1958, Kōno Kinsho, Kaifu's mentor, passed away suddenly. Although Kaifu was considered a potential successor, Miki Takeo decided that Kōno's wife, Takako Kōno, would inherit his political base. Kaifu then became Takako Kōno's public secretary on April 20, 1958. Takako Kōno was successfully elected for the first time in the 28th House of Representatives general election on May 22 of the same year.

On September 16, 1960, Kaifu was chosen to run in the upcoming House of Representatives election for the old Aichi 3rd district, replacing Takako Kōno. On November 20, 1960, in the 29th House of Representatives general election, Kaifu was elected for the first time, becoming the youngest member of the Diet at the age of 29. This marked the beginning of his extensive parliamentary service, during which he served 16 terms, totaling 48 years.

In December 1960, he was appointed Student Director of the LDP Youth Bureau. In 1964, he developed the concept for the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers and conducted a survey across Africa, playing a crucial role in the organization's establishment. He became the Director of the LDP Youth Bureau in 1965. Around 1971, Kaifu resided in a rented house in Shinsei, Ichinomiya City, before establishing his home and office in Heiwa 1-chome, Ichinomiya City.

After the Miki faction transitioned to the Komoto faction, Kaifu became the de facto second-in-command to Toshio Komoto until his departure from the party in 1994. However, unlike Komoto, Kaifu was known for his limited financial contributions, earning him the nickname "wallet closer." He was also referred to as a "Neo-New Leader" alongside politicians like Ryutaro Hashimoto and Takao Fujinami, aspiring to succeed the established "New Leaders." Due to his close ties with Noboru Takeshita and other Waseda University Oratorical Society alumni, he was sometimes described as "Komoto faction by address, Takeshita faction by origin," leading to speculation that he might leave the Komoto faction to join Takeshita if the latter became prime minister.

Kaifu held several key positions in the LDP and government: Labor Parliamentary Vice-Minister (1966, under the Third Remodelled First Sato Cabinet), Chairman of the House of Representatives Steering Committee (1972), Director of the LDP Personnel Bureau (1973), and Deputy Secretary-General of the LDP (1974). In December 1974, he was appointed Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary in the Miki Cabinet. In this role, he coordinated the first G7 summit in Rambouillet in 1975 and served as the government's liaison during the 1975 Japanese National Railways strike, handling labor negotiations, opposition party engagement, and media discussions. In September 1976, he became Chairman of the LDP Diet Affairs Committee.

4. Political Career and Public Office

Toshiki Kaifu's political career was extensive, marked by his service as a legislator and his significant roles in various government positions, culminating in his premiership.

4.2. Premiership

Kaifu's ascent to the prime ministership was a consequence of a turbulent political climate, and his tenure was characterized by efforts to restore public trust, navigate complex international relations, and push for political reforms.

4.2.1. Path to Premiership

The path to Kaifu's premiership was paved by a series of high-profile scandals that severely eroded public trust in the LDP. On July 24, 1989, Prime Minister Sōsuke Uno resigned, taking responsibility for the LDP's significant defeat in the 15th House of Councillors election and amid a personal scandal. This followed the resignation of his predecessor, Noboru Takeshita, due to the Recruit scandal.

At the time, most of the LDP's influential figures were implicated in the Recruit scandal. Yasuhiro Nakasone had resigned from the party in disgrace. Prominent "New Leaders" such as Shintaro Abe, Kiichi Miyazawa, and Michio Watanabe were in self-imposed political exile, adhering to an LDP rule that required them to refrain from party positions for a year or until the next general election. Consequently, none of the L four major LDP factions (Takeshita, Abe, Miyazawa, and former Nakasone factions) were in a position to field a candidate for party president.

On July 26, Kaifu, whose office was in the same building as Takeshita's, was summoned by Takeshita. Takeshita informed Kaifu that it would be difficult to put forward a candidate from his own faction, such as Ryutaro Hashimoto. This meeting initiated Kaifu's path to the premiership. Despite initial opposition from his family, Kaifu resolved to take on the responsibility, stating, "I must die as a politician, so I want to do my best before that."

On July 30, Takeshita faction leaders, including Keizo Obuchi, Ichirō Ozawa, Keiwa Okuda, Seiroku Kajiyama, Tsutomu Hata, and Tsuneo Watabe, met at Shin Kanemaru's residence. Ryutaro Hashimoto was notably absent. Fearing a split within the over 100-member Takeshita faction if Hashimoto was unified as the candidate, Kanemaru stated that Hashimoto needed "a bit more human training." On July 31, the Takeshita faction formally decided not to field its own candidate, and Hashimoto announced his withdrawal.

Within the Komoto faction, to which Kaifu belonged, there was a movement to nominate their leader, Toshio Komoto, despite his age of 78. However, after discussions with Abe and Kanemaru, Komoto was persuaded to withdraw. On August 2, Kaifu held a press conference to announce his candidacy, emphasizing his "youth" and "freshness" in contrast to the scandal-ridden political landscape.

On August 8, 1989, Kaifu was elected the 14th President of the Liberal Democratic Party in an election that also featured Yoshiro Hayashi (supported by the Miyazawa faction) and Shintaro Ishihara (from the Abe faction). This election was unusual as none of the candidates were faction leaders. Kaifu's victory was largely due to the support of the largest faction, the Takeshita faction.

4.2.2. First and Second Cabinets

Kaifu officially became the 76th Prime Minister of Japan on August 10, 1989. His premiership began during a period known as the "Twisted Diet," where the LDP had lost its majority in the House of Councillors but retained it in the House of Representatives. In the prime ministerial designation vote, the House of Representatives nominated Kaifu, while the opposition-controlled House of Councillors nominated Takako Doi, the Chairwoman of the Japan Socialist Party. Under Article 67 of the Constitution of Japan, the matter was referred to a joint committee of both houses, but an agreement could not be reached. Consequently, Kaifu's nomination by the House of Representatives prevailed, reflecting the House of Representatives' superiority in such matters. Kaifu was also the first prime minister born in the Showa era.

His appointment came during the height of Japan's bubble economy, a period of robust economic growth. However, public trust in politics was severely undermined by the Recruit scandal. Kaifu's "clean" image was seen as a crucial asset to restore faith in the LDP. In forming his cabinet, he prioritized politicians who had minimal or no involvement in the Recruit scandal. This approach, however, led to dissatisfaction within the party, which later contributed to the failure of his political reform bills.

Shortly after the formation of the First Kaifu Cabinet, Tokuo Yamashita, the Chief Cabinet Secretary, faced a scandal related to his personal life. Kaifu swiftly dismissed Yamashita and appointed Mayumi Moriyama, then Minister of State for the Environment, as the new Chief Cabinet Secretary, making her the first woman to hold that position. Kaifu also made efforts to appeal to female voters by attending various events with his wife.

A major challenge for Kaifu was leading the LDP to victory in the upcoming general election. The LDP needed to avoid a repeat of its disastrous performance in the House of Councillors election. In the 39th House of Representatives general election in February 1990, Kaifu successfully led the LDP to a significant victory, securing 275 seats on its own, and 286 with the addition of conservative independents, thus regaining a majority. In 1990, he also successfully oversaw the enthronement ceremony for Emperor Akihito.

Kaifu received an honorary doctorate from New York University on September 28, 1990, and an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Boston University on July 10, 1991.

Despite his clean image and public popularity, Kaifu's internal party base was fragile. As a leader from the small Komoto faction, his victory in the LDP presidential election was largely due to the backing of former Prime Minister Takeshita and his powerful faction. For instance, immediately after Kaifu's designation as prime minister, the LDP's top three executives, including new Secretary-General Ichirō Ozawa, proceeded to form the cabinet without Kaifu's direct involvement. Kaifu was reportedly kept waiting in an adjacent room and had no say in the appointments. The new cabinet list was announced just five hours after his designation, reflecting the significant influence of the party's powerful factions, particularly the "Kin-Take-Oza" (Kanemaru, Takeshita, Ozawa) group. Nobuo Ishihara's memoirs note that Kaifu often sought the approval of Kanemaru and Takeshita for major legislation, and Ozawa reportedly criticized Kaifu as "truly foolish" and "Uno was much better." While the "light and foolish" comment was originally attributed to Ozawa regarding Nakasone's support in 1982, it was often misattributed to Kaifu, who himself noted hearing such remarks in his memoirs.

4.2.3. Political Reform Attempts

Kaifu was deeply committed to political reform, particularly the introduction of a single-member district electoral system, believing it was essential to restore public trust and address the root causes of political corruption. However, his efforts faced immense resistance from within the LDP, especially from factions that benefited from the existing multi-member constituency system.

His political reform bills, known as the "Political Reform Four Laws," faced fierce opposition and were ultimately shelved in the Diet due to lack of consensus. Following this setback, Kaifu publicly declared his "grave determination," a statement widely interpreted as an intent to dissolve the House of Representatives and call a snap election. However, this move triggered a strong backlash within the LDP, leading to a "Kaifu-oroshi" (movement to oust Kaifu) campaign. Even the pro-Ozawa elements within the Takeshita faction, who had initially supported him, explicitly withdrew their support for a dissolution. Facing overwhelming internal opposition, Kaifu was unable to exercise his prerogative to dissolve the Diet.

4.2.4. Foreign Policy

Kaifu's tenure as prime minister coincided with significant global shifts, including the end of the Cold War and the Persian Gulf War, which tested Japan's role in international affairs.

During the 1991 Gulf War, Japan, under Kaifu's leadership, pledged a substantial financial contribution of 13.00 B USD to the multinational forces. Despite this enormous sum, Japan faced criticism internationally, particularly from the United States, for its lack of direct human contribution to the war effort. This led to accusations of "checkbook diplomacy" and the phrase "too little, too late" was often used to describe Japan's response. Initially, Japan's flag was notably absent from a thank-you advertisement placed in a Kuwaiti newspaper, though this was later rectified. Following the ceasefire, Kaifu dispatched a Maritime Self-Defense Force minesweeping unit to the Persian Gulf, marking the first overseas mission for the Japan Self-Defense Forces since their establishment.

Kaifu also played a crucial role in normalizing relations with China after the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre. On August 10, 1991, he became the first leader of a major country to make an official visit to China, effectively breaking China's diplomatic isolation. During his visit, Kaifu ended Japan's participation in economic sanctions against China and offered 949.90 M USD in loans, along with an additional 1.50 M USD in emergency aid following flood damage in southern China. Kaifu stated that he "stuck to principles" with China and, during his visit, laid flowers in Tiananmen Square to pray for the victims of the incident. This move was supported by US President George H. W. Bush, who was also reluctant to impose full sanctions and had secretly sent envoys to China to negotiate the emigration of pro-democracy activist Fang Lizhi. Japan reportedly linked the resumption of loans to Fang Lizhi's departure, and Bush aligned with Kaifu's decision to resume yen loans at the 16th G7 summit.

In 1991, Kaifu held a meeting with Roh Tae-woo, the first democratically elected president of South Korea. During this meeting, Kaifu promised to abolish the controversial fingerprinting requirement for Koreans residing in Japan, a policy that was subsequently implemented. He also visited the Berlin Wall in January 1990, symbolizing Japan's engagement with the changing global landscape.

4.2.5. Resignation

Despite maintaining relatively high approval ratings (peaking at 64% and still over 50% just before his departure), Kaifu's political reform efforts ultimately led to his downfall. His attempts to pass the Political Reform Four Laws were met with strong internal opposition within the LDP. When the bills were shelved in the Diet, Kaifu's declaration of "grave determination" was widely interpreted as a threat to dissolve the House of Representatives. This sparked a furious backlash, known as "Kaifu-oroshi" (the movement to oust Kaifu), from anti-Kaifu factions, including the influential "YKK" group (Koichi Kato, Taku Yamasaki, and Junichiro Koizumi).

Crucially, even the pro-Ozawa elements within the Takeshita faction, which had initially backed Kaifu, explicitly withdrew their support for a dissolution. Without the backing of the largest faction, Kaifu could not proceed with the dissolution. Facing a complete loss of support from all major factions except his own small Komoto faction, and with Miyazawa Kiichi, Hiroshi Mitsuzuka, and Michio Watanabe announcing their candidacies for the LDP presidency, Kaifu's path to re-election as party leader was closed.

On November 5, 1991, Kaifu resigned as Prime Minister. His 818-day tenure was the longest for a prime minister under the current Japanese constitution whose cabinet did not face a no-confidence vote. Although he held the top office during a period of significant change, including the end of the bubble economy and the Cold War, his administration was largely seen as constrained by the powerful factions, particularly the Takeshita faction. Key issues like PKO (Peacekeeping Operations) and political reform were ultimately deferred to subsequent administrations. Despite the perception that he lacked significant political initiative, his clean and refreshing image continued to garner strong public support.

5. Party Activities and Leadership

Following his premiership, Toshiki Kaifu's political career took an unusual turn as he moved between different political parties, a rare trajectory for a former LDP president.

6. Personal Life

Toshiki Kaifu's personal life was intertwined with his political career, but he maintained a close family bond. On November 17, 1957, Kaifu married Sachiyo Yanagihara, who had been an assistant to a member of the House of Representatives from Gifu Prefecture.

The couple had a son, Masaki Kaifu, and a daughter, Mutsumi. Masaki Kaifu later became a television producer and anime producer, and also served as his father's secretary. Mutsumi was born on July 19, 1963, and is a graduate of Aoyama Gakuin University.

His family lineage includes notable figures. His great-grandfather, Kaifu Kozo, served as a steward and consultant to the Owari Tokugawa family. His nephew, Kaifu Atsushi, is a diplomat. Among his cousins are Norio Kaifu, a renowned astronomer and former president of the International Astronomical Union (IAU), and Makoto Kobayashi, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2008. Another cousin, Kaifu Shunichi, a former managing director of Shinko Home, was convicted in a fraud case in 2002. Distant relatives also include the brothers Kaifu Sohei and Kaifu Masahide, former samurai of the Owari domain, who are credited with creating the Nagoya Cochin chicken breed.

7. Death

Toshiki Kaifu died at 4:00 AM on January 9, 2022, at a hospital in Tokyo, at the age of 91. The cause of his death was reported as pneumonia, though some sources also cited old age. The announcement of his passing to the media was delayed until January 14, 2022. His funeral was held privately at his home, in accordance with his family's wishes.

On January 18, 2022, the Japanese government posthumously awarded Kaifu the Junior Second Rank (正二位_{Shō Nii}^Japanese) and the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum (大勲位菊花大綬章_{Daikun'i Kikka Daijushō}^Japanese). He was the 11th former prime minister in the post-war era to receive the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum. Following Kaifu's death, Morihiro Hosokawa became the oldest living former prime minister, while Tomiichi Murayama remained the oldest living former prime minister by birth date.

8. Legacy and Evaluation

Toshiki Kaifu's political career, particularly his premiership, is remembered for its unique circumstances and the challenges he faced in navigating a complex political landscape.

9. Awards and Honors

Toshiki Kaifu received numerous national and international awards and honors throughout his distinguished career:

• Grand Cross of the Order of the Sun of Peru (1989)
• Order of the Paulownia Grand Cordon (2011)
• Honorary Citizen of Ichinomiya City, Aichi Prefecture (June 29, 2011)
• Honorary Citizen of Aichi Prefecture (December 3, 2011)
• Honorary Doctorate from National Central University, Taiwan (March 2012)
• Junior Second Rank (正二位_{Shō Nii}^Japanese) (posthumous, January 18, 2022)
• Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum (大勲位菊花大綬章_{Daikun'i Kikka Daijushō}^Japanese) (posthumous, January 18, 2022)

10. Election History

Toshiki Kaifu had a long and consistent electoral record throughout his parliamentary career, serving 16 terms in the House of Representatives.

11. Writings

Toshiki Kaifu authored several books and memoirs, offering insights into his political philosophy and experiences.

• Model Speeches 385 Selections (有紀書房, 1968)
• Choice for the Future: Towards an Era of Creation and Fulfillment (未来への選択 : 創造と充実の時代へ) (Tokuma Shoten, 1981)
• Aiming for the 21st Century: Toshiki Kaifu Dialogue Collection (21世紀を目指す : 海部俊樹鼎談集) (Kyodo News, 1985)
• Conception of Japan as a Nation with Ambition (志ある国家日本の構想) (Toyo Keizai Shinposha, 1995)
• Politics and Money: Toshiki Kaifu Memoir (政治とカネ-海部俊樹回顧録) (Shinchosha Shinsho, 2010)
• Toshiki Kaifu Reminiscences: Jiga Sako (海部俊樹回想録-自我作古) (人間社, 2015), compiled by Hiroki Kakimi. This work was originally serialized in the Chunichi Shimbun from June 2014 to March 2015, spanning 57 installments.

He also co-authored:

• New Media Renaissance: The Future of New Media as Seen by Various Authors (ニューメディア・ルネッサンス 多彩な執筆陣が見通すニューメディアの未来像), co-edited with the LDP Showakai (紀尾井書房, 1985).
• The Miracle of the Mongolian Horse Dalai Fleg: The Story of a Famous Horse That Became a Bridge of Friendship Between Japan and Mongolia (モンゴル馬ダライフレグの奇跡 日本とモンゴル友好のかけ橋になった名馬の物語), co-authored with Shigeki Shimoda, illustrated by Shiki Sasamori, English translation by Saeko Momiyama, planned and supervised by Osamu Miyata (Kiba book, 2006).

12. Anecdotes and Personal Characteristics

Toshiki Kaifu was known for several distinctive personal traits and memorable anecdotes that colored his public image.

His signature polka-dot ties were a widely recognized trademark. This began during his time as Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary in the Miki Cabinet, when he appeared on a television debate program about the Japanese National Railways strike. Due to his intense workload, he wore the same polka-dot tie for several consecutive days, prompting comments from viewers. He then intentionally adopted it as his trademark. He reportedly owned over 600 polka-dot ties. He even wore black ties with subtle black polka dots for somber occasions, such as Emperor Showa's funeral and the peace memorial ceremonies in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, where the polka dots were only faintly visible in bright light.

Kaifu was renowned for his oratorical skills. He founded a debate club in junior high school, winning regional tournaments. At Chuo University, he joined the Jitsudatsu Gakkai (Oratorical Society), and later, at Waseda University, he was a member of the Waseda University Oratorical Society. During his time at Waseda, he honed his debating skills and built a network of contacts. After winning a student debate competition, the president of Waseda University, Tokijiro Tokoyama, famously praised him, saying, "No one surpasses Kaifu's speech. There was no Kaifu before Kaifu, and there will be no Kaifu after Kaifu." The connections he forged during this period, including with contemporaries like Tsuneo Watabe, proved instrumental in his political ascent, helping him secure the prime ministership despite belonging to a smaller faction.

Kaifu had a peculiar connection to the number "29." He was elected in the 29th House of Representatives general election at the age of 29, and his first office in the Diet members' building was room number 29. He publicly joked that because of this, he would become prime minister 29 years later to repay his good fortune. This prediction remarkably came true in 1989, exactly 29 years after his first election, when he became prime minister. During his first election campaign, his supporter Ittarō Ide coined the popular slogan, "You might drop your wallet (saifu), but don't drop Kaifu (Kaifu)," which contributed to his popularity and election.

Many of Kaifu's secretaries went on to become politicians themselves, including Shiten Tanaka (former Mayor of Inuyama), Hiromichi Kumada (House of Representatives member), Yasumasa Nagasaka (House of Representatives member), Shinji Iwamura (former Aichi Prefectural Assembly member and Speaker, though later involved in an assault case and lost re-election), and Manabu Nishikawa (Nagoya City Assembly member).

At the 16th G7 summit in Houston, Texas, in July 1990, a photograph of Kaifu making a joke in English that made US President George H. W. Bush, UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney burst into laughter was widely circulated. According to Kaifu, Mulroney complained about the heat, saying, "America is rural, and it's terribly hot. Canada isn't this hot." Kaifu, standing next to Mulroney, retorted, "If Canada collapses, Japan can't support it. Fall to that side; let the Iron Lady (Thatcher) take care of you." This quip reportedly delighted the other leaders.

As prime minister, Kaifu engaged in various public performances to gain popular support. He participated in physical fitness tests, including shuttle runs, with citizens on Health and Sports Day, and even invited seniors to the Prime Minister's Official Residence to play gateball.

He was the model for the character "Prime Minister Umibe" in the 1991 anime film Lupin the 3rd: Napoleon's Dictionary, whose catchphrase, "I'll consult with the Secretary-General too," satirized Kaifu's perceived reliance on then-LDP Secretary-General Ichirō Ozawa. After his premiership, Kaifu and his wife appeared on the variety show Saegusa's Ai Love! Bakusho Clinic. He deeply respected Takeo Miki as a politician and maintained a close friendship, being affectionately called "Toshiki-chan" by Miki's wife, Mutsuo Miki, a nickname that became widely known through television. The centenarian twin sisters, Kin Narita and Gin Kanie, famously named Kaifu as the politician they respected most, and Kaifu later served as the chairman of Kin's funeral committee. He also had a close connection with Takashi Kawamura, the former mayor of Nagoya, whose mother was a friend of Kaifu's sister. Kaifu was also featured in Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi's song "Oya Shirazu," alongside Mikhail Gorbachev, Saddam Hussein, and George H. W. Bush. In the 1983 film Shosetsu Yoshida Gakko, Kaifu was portrayed by Katsuhiro Fukuda. In May 1990, he watched a sumo tournament from the VIP box at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan, a rare appearance for a sitting prime minister. When sumo wrestler Chiyonofuji Mitsugu, whom Kaifu had honored with the National Honor Award, died in 2016, Kaifu sent his condolences. After his second term as Minister of Education, following the suicide of idol Yukiko Okada, Kaifu responded to a question in the House of Representatives Education Committee, stating, "Idols are beings who give dreams to everyone. Please value your lives and live strongly and bravely."