Wikipedia

Tarō Asō

In thisJapanese name,thesurnameisAsō.Thebaptismal nameisFrancisco.

Tarō Asō(Ma sinh quá lang,Asō Tarō,born 20 September 1940)is a Japanese politician who served asPrime Minister of Japanfrom 2008 to 2009. A member of theLiberal Democratic Party(LDP), he also served asDeputy Prime MinisterandMinister of Financefrom 2012 to 2021. He was the longest-serving Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance in Japanese history, having previously served asMinister for Foreign Affairsfrom 2005 to 2007 and asMinister for Internal Affairs and Communicationsfrom 2003 to 2005. He leads theShikōkaifaction within the LDP.[1]

Tarō Asō
Ma sinh quá lang
Official portrait, 2017
Prime Minister of Japan
In office
24 September 2008 – 16 September 2009
MonarchAkihito
Preceded byYasuo Fukuda
Succeeded byYukio Hatoyama
President of the Liberal Democratic Party
In office
22 September 2008 – 28 September 2009
Secretary-GeneralHiroyuki Hosoda
Preceded byYasuo Fukuda
Succeeded bySadakazu Tanigaki
Vice President of the Liberal Democratic Party
In office
8 October 2021 – 27 September 2024
PresidentFumio Kishida
Secretary-GeneralAkira Amari
Toshimitsu Motegi
Preceded byMasahiko Kōmura
Succeeded byYoshihide Suga
Deputy Prime Minister of Japan
In office
26 December 2012 – 4 October 2021
Prime MinisterShinzo Abe
Yoshihide Suga
Preceded byKatsuya Okada
Succeeded byVacant
Minister of Finance
In office
26 December 2012 – 4 October 2021
Prime MinisterShinzo Abe
Yoshihide Suga
Preceded byKoriki Jojima
Succeeded byShun'ichi Suzuki
Minister for Foreign Affairs
In office
31 October 2005 – 27 August 2007
Prime MinisterJunichiro Koizumi
Shinzo Abe
Preceded byNobutaka Machimura
Succeeded byNobutaka Machimura
Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications
In office
22 September 2003 – 31 October 2005
Prime MinisterJunichiro Koizumi
Preceded byToranosuke Katayama
Succeeded byHeizō Takenaka
Member of the House of Representatives
fromFukuoka
Incumbent
Assumed office
8 July 1986
Preceded byShinnen Tagaya
ConstituencyFukuoka 2nd district (1986–1996)
Fukuoka 8th district(1996–present)
In office
7 October 1979 – 28 November 1983
Preceded byAsao Mihara
Succeeded byToshio Ohashi
ConstituencyFukuoka 2nd district
Personal details
Born(1940-09-20)20 September 1940(age 84)
Iizuka, Fukuoka,Empire of Japan
Political partyLiberal Democratic Party(Shikōkai)
SpouseChikako Aso[ja]
Children2
RelativesShigeru Yoshida(grandfather)
Nobuko, Princess Tomohito of Mikasa(sister)
Princess Akiko(niece)
Princess Yōko(niece)
Ken'ichi Yoshida(uncle)
Zenkō Suzuki(father-in-law)
Shun'ichi Suzuki(brother-in-law)
EducationGakushuin University
Stanford University(dropped out)
London School of Economics
WebsiteOfficial website
Deputy Prime Minister Asō in front of the Gundam Cafe inAkihabaraintroducing prime ministerShinzo Abe(middle) with a speech, 2014.

Asō was first elected to theHouse of Representativesin 1979. He served in numerous ministerial roles before becomingSecretary-General of the Liberal Democratic Party(LDP) in 2008, having also held that role temporarily in 2007.[2]He was later elected LDP President in September 2008, becoming prime minister the same month.[2]He led the LDP to theworst election resultin its history a year later, marking only the second time in post-war Japan that a governing party had lost re-election, and resigned as the President of the party immediately afterwards. After the LDP returned to government following the2012 electionunderShinzo Abe,Asō was appointed to the Cabinet as Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, retaining those roles whenYoshihide Sugareplaced Abe in 2020.[3]AfterFumio Kishidawas appointed prime minister in October 2021, Asō was moved to the role of Vice President of the Liberal Democratic Party.[4]He is also a noted power broker inside the party, leading theShikōkai.He backedTaro Konoin the first round of the2024 LDP presidential election,and then backedSanae Takaichi,who ultimately lost toShigeru Ishiba.Asō's role in the party is unclear under Ishiba, who told him to step down in 2009. He was visibly unhappy as Ishiba was announced the winner.[5]He was replaced asVice PresidentbyYoshihide Suga,instead becoming Chief Advisor to the party.[6]

Asō has been attached to a number of controversies in his career. He conceded in 2008 thathis family had benefitted from forced laborduring World War II, although he has refused to apologize for it. Asō also had a reputation for political gaffes and controversial remarks.[7]

Family and early life

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Taro Asō was born inIizukainFukuoka Prefectureon 20 September 1940, as the eldest son of Takakichi Asō and his wife Kazuko. The Asō family was one of the leading business families inKyushu,going back to Asō’s great grandfather Takichi Asō, who established himself as a coal mining magnate in theMeiji era.Takakichi Asō had taken over the family company after Takichi as a young man in the 1930s. Kazuko was the daughter of the diplomatShigeru Yoshida,who after the war served as Prime Minister from 1946 to 1947 and 1948 to 1954. Through his maternal grandmother, Aso is also a descendant of the Meiji statesmanToshimichi Okubo,considered one of the founders of modern Japan.[8][9]

Asō initially attended an elementary school affiliated with the Aso Group, but in his third year of elementary school he transferred toGakushuinin Tokyo, the traditional school for children of the aristocracy. He graduated fromGakushuin Universityin 1963.[8]He took the employment examination for theSankei Shimbun,but decided to continue his studied overseas instead.[10]Asō attendedStanford Universityin California, but later dropped out. By his own account, his anglophile grandfather Shigeru Yoshida, who had come to see him in connection to attending the funeral of GeneralDouglas MacArthur,was displeased with him acquiring a "lousy Californian accent," leading to him being ordered by his family to study in Britain instead. He consequently transferred to theLondon School of Economics.[11][12]

Career

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After he returned to Japan from his studies abroad, he entered the Aso Industry Company in 1966.[13]Working for the company, he lived inBrazilduring the 1960s and became fluent inPortuguese.[14]

For two years from 1970, Asō worked in thediamond miningindustry inSierra Leoneas a local representative of the Asō family at a new mining area offered by a local authority after the nationalization of the diamond industry in the country. He was forced to return to Japan at the outbreak ofcivil unrestin the country.[15][16]

Asō served as president of the Aso Mining Company from 1973 to 1979. He was also a member of the Japaneseshootingteam at the1976 Summer OlympicsinMontrealand President of the JapanJunior Chamberin 1978.[citation needed]

Political career

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Asō is affiliated with the openlyhistorical negationistorganizationNippon Kaigi.[17]

Cabinet Minister

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He joined theCabinetofJun'ichirō Koizumiin 2003 as Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications. On 31 October 2005, he became Minister for Foreign Affairs. There has been some speculation that his position in the Cabinet was due to his membership in the Kōno Group, an LDP caucus led by pro-Chinese lawmakerYōhei Kōno:by appointing Asō as Minister for Foreign Affairs, Koizumi may have been attempting to "rein in" Kōno's statements critical of Japanese foreign policy.[18]

Candidate for the LDP Leadership

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Asō was one of the final candidates to replace Koizumi as prime minister in 2006, but lost the internal party election toShinzo Abeby a wide margin. Both Abe and Asō are conservative on foreign policy issues and have taken confrontational stances towards someEast Asiannations, particularlyNorth Koreaand, to a lesser extent, thePeople's Republic of China.Abe was considered a more "moderate" politician than the more "hard-line" Asō, and led Asō in opinion polling within Japan.[19]Asō's views on multilateralism are suggested in a 2006 speech, "Arc of Freedom and Prosperity: Japan's Expanding Diplomatic Horizons".[20]

Asō acknowledged that he would most likely lose to Fukuda, but said that he wanted to run so that there would be an open election, saying that otherwise LDP would face criticism for making its choice "through back-room deals".[21]In thePresident election,held on 23 September, Fukuda defeated Asō, receiving 330 votes against 197 votes for Asō.[22][23]

On 1 August 2008, Fukuda appointed Asō as Secretary-General of LDP, a move that solidified Asō's position as the number two-man in the party.[24]

Prime Minister of Japan

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Main articles:2008 Liberal Democratic Party (Japan) presidential electionandAsō Cabinet
Official portrait as Prime Minister, 2008

Unexpectedly on 1 September 2008, Fukuda announced his resignation as prime minister.[25]Five LDP members including Asō ran for new party President to succeed Fukuda. On 21 September, one day before votes of Diet party members, Asō reportedly told a crowd of supporters outside Tokyo: "The greatest concern right now is the economy." "America is facing a financial crisis... we must not allow that to bring us down as well."[26]Finally on 22 September, Asō did win. He was elected as President of LDP with 351 of 525 votes (217 from 384 Diet party members, 134 from 47 prefecture branches);Kaoru Yosano,Yuriko Koike,Nobuteru Ishihara,Shigeru Ishibagot 66, 46, 37, 25 votes respectively.[27][28][29]

Two days later on 24 September, Asō was designated by the Diet as prime minister, and was formally appointed to the office by the Emperor on that night. In the House of Representatives (lower house), he garnered 337 out of 478 votes cast; in theHouse of Councillors(upper house),Ichirō Ozawa,President[30]of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan, was named through two times of ballots.[31][32]Because no agreement was reached at a joint committee of both Houses, the resolution of the House of Representatives became the resolution of the Diet, as is stipulated in the Constitution.[32][33]Asō reportedly said, "If you look at the current period, it's not a stable one." and "These are turbulent times with the financial situation and everything else."[34]

Tarō Asō meetingRussian PresidentDmitry MedvedevinYuzhno-Sakhalinskon 18 February 2009.
Tarō Asō meeting withU.S. PresidentGeorge W. Bushin theWhite Houseon 14 November 2008.
Tarō Asō meeting withU.S. PresidentBarack Obamain theWhite Houseon 24 February 2009.
Tarō Asō meeting withRussian Prime MinisterVladimir PutininTokyoon 12 May 2009.

Later on the same day as his election as prime minister, Asō personally announced his new Cabinet (this is normally done by theChief Cabinet Secretary). His Cabinet was markedly different from the preceding Cabinet under Fukuda. Five of its members had never previously served in the Cabinet, and one of them, 34-year-oldYūko Obuchi,was the youngest member of the Cabinet in the post-war era.[35]

Prime Minister Asō flew to Washington to meet withUnited States PresidentBarack Obamain February 2009. He was the first foreign leader to visit the Obama White House; however, reports suggested that the new administration was interested less in giving Asō a political boost than in sending a message that Japan continues to be an important ally and partner[36]– a low-risk, high-payoff gesture for both Asō and Obama.[37]

After his election as prime minister Asō was expected to dissolve the lower house to clear the way for a general election.[38]But he repeatedly stressed the need for a functioning government to face the economic crisis and ruled out an early election.[39]Only after passage of the extra budget for fiscal 2009 in May and facing internal pressure from the LDP after a series of defeats in regional elections – most notably theTokyo prefectural election on 12 July– he decided to announce ageneral election for 30 August 2009.[40]He dissolved the House of Representatives on 21 July 2009.[41]The LDP lost by a landslide to theDemocratic Party of Japan,in the face of record levels of post-war unemployment. Accepting responsibility for the worst (and second-only) defeat of a sitting government in modern Japanese history, Asō immediately resigned as LDP president.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance

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When Shinzo Abe returned to the Prime Minister's office in December 2012, Aso is appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. He is the first former Japanese Prime Minister to subsequently serve as Deputy Prime Minister. Following Shinzo Abe's second resignation as prime minister in August 2020 due to a resurgence of ulcerative colitis, many speculated Aso would launch a leadership bid. He took many people aback when he announced that he would not seek the post. Aso maintained his position as Deputy Prime Minister under Abe's successorYoshihide Suga,until Suga himself resigned in September 2021 and was succeeded byFumio Kishida.Aso became the Vice President of theLiberal Democratic Partyunder the new LDP leader and Prime MinisterFumio Kishida.

Controversial statements

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In 2001, as Minister of Finance, he was quoted as saying he wanted to make Japan a country where "rich Jews"would like to live.[42][7]

On 15 October 2005, during the opening ceremony of theKyushu National Museumwhich also displays how other Asian cultures have influenced Japanese cultural heritage, he praised Japan for having "one culture, one civilization, one language, andone ethnic group",and stated that it was the only such country in the world. This statement sparked controversy for what critics described as invoking Japan's imperialist and racist past.[43]

At a lecture inNagasaki Prefecture,Asō referred to a Japanese peace initiative on theMiddle East,stating, "The Japanese were trusted because they had never been involved in exploitation there, or been involved in fights or fired machine guns. Japan is doing what the Americans can't do. It would probably be no good to have blue eyes and blond hair. Luckily, we Japanese have yellow faces."[42]

Kyodo Newsreported that he had said on 4 February 2006, "our predecessors did a good thing" regardingcompulsory educationimplemented during Japan's colonization ofTaiwan.[44][7]

Tarō Asō shakes hands with then Secretary of State of U.S.Condoleezza RiceatAPECsummit in 2005

On 21 December 2005, he said China was "a neighbour with one billion people equipped with nuclear bombs and has expanded its military outlays by double digits for 17 years in a row, and it is unclear as to what this is being used for. It is beginning to be a considerable threat".[45]On 28 January 2006, he called for the emperor to visit the controversialYasukuni Shrine.He later backtracked on the comment, but stated that he hoped such a visit would be possible in the future.[46][7]

Mainichi Daily Newsreported that on 9 March 2006 he referred toTaiwanas a "law-abiding country", which drew strong protest fromBeijing,which considers the island a part ofChina.[47]

On 23 September 2008,Akahata,the daily newspaper published byJapanese Communist Party,released a compiled list of these and other statements as the front-page article criticizing Asō.[48]This compilation as well as similar lists of blunders have been frequently cited in the Japanese media.

Yahoo! Newsreported that he had said on 9 January 2009, "To work is good. It's completely different thinking from the Old Testament."[49]

While speaking at a meeting of the National Council on Social Security Reform, in 2013, Asō referred to patients with serious illness as "tube persons" and remarked that they should be "allowed to die quickly" if they desired it. "Heaven forbid I should be kept alive if I want to die", he is quoted as saying. "You cannot sleep well when you think it's all paid by the government. This won't be solved unless you let them hurry up and die."[50][51]

In 2014, while campaigning inSapporofor the general election, Asō said that rising social welfare costs were not solely due to an aging population. He said, "There are many people who are creating the image that (the increasing number of) elderly people is bad, but more problematic is people who don't give birth". The comment was labeled as insensitive to those who are not able to have children for biological or economic reasons.[52]

The Guardianreported on 30 August 2017, that he said, "Hitler,who killed millions of people, was no good even if his motive was right. "He later retracted the remarks.[53]On another occasion, he praised how theNazi Partywas able to stealthily and quickly change the constitution without alerting the general public.[7]

According toThe Japan Times,Asō "raised eyebrows" in June 2018 when he stated that the large support towards the LDP among voters under 35 in the2017 general electionwas due to that demographic being less inclined than older Japanese to read newspapers, which had been critical of Abe's handling of cronyism scandals.[54]

In May 2018, Asō downplayed alleged sexual harassment charges against his ministry's top bureaucrat by saying that "there is no such thing as a sexual harassment charge."[55]When asked to comment on a formal complaint submitted to his ministry on the alleged sexual harassment, Asō remarked that his "only thought was that it would have been easier to read if they used a bigger font."[56]

In October 2021, during Asō's speech for anLDPcandidate inOtarusaid thatHokkaidorice "has become tastier thanks to (global) warming," also adding that the rice "used to be unsalable" but now tastier and even exported "because of higher temperatures." Additionally he made the statement that people often associate global warming and the warmer temperature it brings with it as a negative but that there can be "something good" that can come out of it.[57]

In January 2024, Aso referred to foreign ministerYoko Kamikawaas an "obasan" (roughly translated as old lady) and "not particularly beautiful" while remarking on her tenure during a speech inFukuoka.[58]Following widespread uproar and a rebuke by Prime MinisterFumio Kishida,Aso withdrew his remarks.[59]

Aso Mining forced labor controversy

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Further information:Aso Mining forced labor controversy
MalnourishedAustralianPOWsforced to work at the Aso mining company, photographed in August 1945.

In mid-2008 Asō conceded that his family's coal mine, Aso Mining Company, was alleged to have forcedAlliedprisoners of warto work in the mines in 1945 without pay. Western media reported that 300 prisoners, including 197 Australians, 101British,and twoDutch,worked in the mine. Two of the Australians, John Watson and Leslie Edgar George Wilkie, died while working in the Aso mine.[60]In addition, 10,000 Korean conscripts worked in the mine between 1939 and 1945 under severe, brutal conditions in which many of them died or were injured while receiving little pay. The company, now known as the Aso Group, is run by Asō's younger brother. Asō's wife serves on itsboard of directors.Asō headed the company in the 1970s before going into politics.[61]

Acting on a request fromYukihisa Fujita,theForeign Ministryinvestigated and announced on 18 December 2008 that Aso Mining had, in fact, used 300 Allied POWs at its mine during World War II. The ministry confirmed that two Australians had died while working at the mine, but declined to release their names or causes of deaths for "privacy reasons". Said Fujita, "Prisoner policy is important in many ways for diplomacy, and it is a major problem that the issue has been neglected for so long."[62]Asō has not responded to requests from former laborers to apologize for the way they were treated by his family's company.[63]

Reading mistakes

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The Japanese media noted in November 2008 that Asō often mispronounced or incorrectly readkanjiwords written in his speeches, even though many of the words are commonly used in Japanese.[64]Asō spoke of the speaking errors to reporters on 12 November 2008 saying, "Those were just reading errors, just mistakes."[65]Asō's tendency for malapropisms has led comparisons toGeorge W. Bush(seeBushism), and the use of his name, "Tarō" as a schoolyard taunt for unintelligent children.[66]

An anatomy professor from theUniversity of Tokyo,Takeshi Yoro, speculated that Asō could possibly havedyslexia.[67]

Nonaka incident

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In 2001, Asō, along withHiromu Nonaka,was among the LDP's chief candidates to succeedYoshirō Morias prime minister of Japan. During a meeting of LDP leaders at which Nonaka was not present, Asō reportedly told the assembled group, "We are not going to let someone from the buraku become the prime minister, are we?" Asō's remark was apparently a reference to Nonaka'sburakumin,a socialminority groupin Japan, heritage.[68]

Nonaka subsequently withdrew as a candidate. Asō eventually lost the appointment toJun'ichirō Koizumi.Asō's comment about Nonaka's heritage was revealed in 2005. Asō denied that he had made the statement, butHisaoki Kamei,who was present at the 2001 meeting, stated in January 2009 that he had heard Asō say something, "to that effect". Nonaka said that he would "never forgive" Asō for the comment and went on to state that Asō was a "misery" to Japan.[68]

Personal life

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Asō is married toChikako Suzuki,who currently serves as the director of the Asō Group and is the daughter of formerPrime MinisterZenkō Suzuki.[69]The couple were married in 1983 and have two children, Masahiro and Ayako. Masahiro served as theNiwango,the company behind the video-sharing service websiteNiconicoin 2005 before being absorbed byDwangoin 2015.[70]Asō is also the elder brother ofNobuko, Princess Tomohito of Mikasaand serves as the uncle ofPrincess Akiko of MikasaandPrincess Yōko of Mikasa.[citation needed]

Fondness for fine dining

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In October 2008, the Japanese media reported that Asō dined out or drank in restaurants and bars in luxury hotels almost nightly. When asked about it, Asō stated, "I won't change my style. Luckily I have my money and can afford it." Asō added that if he went anywhere else, he would have to be accompanied by security guards which would cause trouble.[71]

According to theAsahi Shimbun,Asō dined out or drank at bars 32 times in September 2008, mainly at exclusive hotels. Asō's predecessor, Yasuo Fukuda, dined out only seven times in his first month in office. Both of the LDP's opposition parties have called Asō's frequent outings inappropriate. Asō'sChief Cabinet Secretary,Jun Matsumoto,commented on the issue by saying that Asō's frequent trips to restaurants "is his lifestyle and philosophy, and I am not in a position to express my opinion. If only there were more appropriate places when considering security issues and not causing trouble for other customers."[72]

Net worth

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According toThe Japan Timesin 2022, Tarō Asō is the wealthiest member of Japan'sNational Diet.[73]While Taro Aso's exact net worth is unknown it is estimated that his net worth is 5 billion US dollars. This would make him not just one of the wealthiest politicians in Japan but one of the wealthiest politicians in the world. 80% of his estimated wealth is inherited while 20% of his estimated wealth has been earned by him.[citation needed]

Manga

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Asō argues that embracing Japanese pop culture can be an important step to cultivating ties with other countries, hoping that manga will act as a bridge to the world.[74]He is referred to as anotaku.[75]

Asō has been a fan ofmangasince childhood. He had his family send manga magazines from Japan while he was studying at Stanford University.[76]In 2003, he described reading about 10 or 20 manga magazines every week (making up only part of Asō's voracious reading) and talked about his impression of various manga extemporaneously.[76]In 2007, asMinister for Foreign Affairs,he established theInternational Manga Awardfor non-Japanesemanga artists.[77]

It was reported that he was seen reading the mangaRozen MaideninTokyo International Airport,which earned him thesobriquet"His Excellency Rozen".[78]He admitted in an interview that he had read the manga; however, he said he did not remember whether he had read it in an airport.[79]He is a fan ofGolgo 13,a long-running manga about an assassin for hire.[3]

Asō's candidacy for the position of Japanese Prime Minister actually caused share-value to rise among some manga publishers and companies related to the manga industry.[74]

Family tree

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Toshimichi ŌkuboMichitsune Mishima
Nobuaki MakinoMinekoTakichi Asō
YukikoShigeru YoshidaTarō Asō
Ken'ichi YoshidaKazukoTakakichi AsōZenkō Suzuki
Prince TomohitoPrincess NobukoTarō AsōChikakoShun'ichi Suzuki
Princess AkikoPrincess Yōko

Ancestry

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Incorporates information from the Japanese Wikipedia article

Asō is a patrilineal descendant of the Asō clan and is maternally descended fromŌkubo Toshimichithrough his son CountMakino Nobuaki.Through his paternal grandmother the Hon. Kanō Natsuko, he descends from theTachibana clanof theMiike Domainand from a cadet branch of theŌkubo clan,who ruled theOdawara Domain.[80]

Honours

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Bibliography

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  • Takashi Hirose(Quảng lại long); 『 tư vật quốc gia Nhật Bản の hắc mạc の hệ đồ 』 Tokyo:Kobunsha(1997) Genealogy14
  • Aso, Taro (2007).Tự do と phồn vinh の hình cung.Tokyo:Gentosha.ISBN978-4-344-41197-5.
  • Aso, Taro (2007).とてつもない Nhật Bản.Tokyo:Shinchosha.ISBN978-4-10-610217-2.

Election history

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Election Age District Political party Number of votes election results
1979 Japanese general election 39 Fukuoka 2nd district LDP 71,041 winning
1980 Japanese general election 39 Fukuoka 2nd district LDP 85,826 winning
1983 Japanese general election 43 Fukuoka 2nd district LDP 75,412 lost
1986 Japanese general election 45 Fukuoka 2nd district LDP 134,179 winning
1990 Japanese general election 49 Fukuoka 2nd district LDP 99,876 winning
1993 Japanese general election 52 Fukuoka 2nd district LDP 101,080 winning
1996 Japanese general election 56 Fukuoka 8th district LDP 114,408 winning
2000 Japanese general election 59 Fukuoka 8th district LDP 120,178 winning
2003 Japanese general election 63 Fukuoka 8th district LDP 132,646 winning
2005 Japanese general election 64 Fukuoka 8th district LDP 145,229 winning
2009 Japanese general election 68 Fukuoka 8th district LDP 165,327 winning
2012 Japanese general election 72 Fukuoka 8th district LDP 146,712 winning
2014 Japanese general election 74 Fukuoka 8th district LDP 126,684 winning
2017 Japanese general election 77 Fukuoka 8th district LDP 135,334 winning
2021 Japanese general election 81 Fukuoka 8th district LDP 104,924 winning
2024 Japanese general election 84 Fukuoka 8th district LDP 92,534 winning
[81][82][83]

References

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  2. ^ab"Official English Translations for LDP Officials and Party Organs",Liberal Democratic Party.Archived28 December 2007 at theWayback Machine
  3. ^abDaily Yomiuri28 December 2012
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  5. ^"Japan is expected to have the first female prime minister? Sanae Takaichi vs. Shigeru Ishiba in the second round of voting".NTDV.Asahi.Retrieved27 September2024.
  6. ^"Can sự trường に sâm sơn thị, quan phòng trưởng quan に Lâm thị 続 đầu を kiểm thảo phó tổng tài は gian thị で điều chỉnh".asahi.Asahi Shimbun.Retrieved28 September2024.
  7. ^abcde"Large and in Charge: Who is Taro Aso?".thediplomat.Retrieved30 September2023.
  8. ^ab"Hoa lệ なる nhất tộc Anh quốc lưu thủ tướng の hệ phổ".Nikkei(in Japanese). Tokyo. 4 February 2019.Retrieved3 October2024.
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  11. ^Aso, Taro (7 April 2006)."Speech to be given at the Woodrow Wilson School 75th Anniversary, Asian Event, Hotel Okura, Orchard Room, Tokyo, Japan, on Friday, April 7, 2006".Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.Retrieved26 June2022.
  12. ^japan.kantei.go.jp/97_abe/meibo/daijin/1208723_10042.html
  13. ^"Ma sinh quá lang ngoại vụ đại thần に nghe く＝ ngày bá quan hệ, trăm đầy năm, デカセギ＝ bổn giấy が単 độc インタビュー".Nikkey Shimbun.17 August 2007. Archived fromthe originalon 23 November 2008.Retrieved23 November2008.
  14. ^ArticleonO Estado de S. Paulo,26 September 2008.(in Portuguese)
  15. ^"Ngoại vụ tỉnh: ODA・ tình けは người khác の ためならず".Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.Retrieved7 May2022.
  16. ^Saishu, Koji (1970).Diamond Road wo yuku ダイヤモンド・ロードを hành く.Kodansha. Ma sinh quá lang.
  17. ^"Abe's reshuffle promotes right-wingers "- Korea Joongang Daily - 2014/09/05
  18. ^Hideo Hamada,"The Diet Now: Containment and Division"[permanent dead link‍],Janjan.jp, 1 November 2005.(in Japanese)
  19. ^"Hardline Hawk or Unapologetic Bigot?"[usurped],Coming Anarchy,1 November 2005.
  20. ^Calder, Kent E. and Francis Fukuyama. (2008).East Asian Multilateralism: Prospects for Regional Stability,pp. 179–180.
  21. ^"Former FM Aso acknowledges probable defeat in Japan's leadership race",from The Associated Press onInternational Herald Tribune,16 September 2007.Archived13 October 2007 at theWayback Machine
  22. ^"Fukuda Chosen to Replace Abe as Japan's Prime Minister",VOANews,23 September 2007.Archived20 August 2008 at theWayback Machine
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  24. ^"Fukuda overhauls Cabinet / LDP executive shakeup also elevates Aso to party No. 2",The Yomiuri Shimbun, 2 August 2008.
  25. ^"Fukuda announces resignation as prime minister of Japan"[dead link‍],The Mainichi Daily News,The Mainichi, 1 September 2008.
  26. ^Joseph Coleman,"Japan ruling party turns to brash Aso",The Associated Press, 22 September 2008.[dead link‍]
  27. ^"Đảng の あゆみ・ tổng tài tuyển cử",Liberal Democratic Party.(in Japanese)Archived29 October 2008 at theWayback Machine
  28. ^クローズアップ２００８: Tự dân tân tổng tài に ma sinh thị tổng tuyển cử へ thiết り trátArchived24 September 2008 at theWayback Machine,Mỗi ngày tin tức:Osaka – Evening edition, The Mainichi, 23 September 2008.(in Japanese)
  29. ^"Conservative Aso chosen as Japan PM"Archived25 September 2008 at theWayback Machine,AFP, 22 September 2008.
  30. ^"About us",The Democratic Party of Japan.
  31. ^"LDP President Aso elected prime minister",The Mainichi Daily News,The Mainichi Newspapers,24 September 2008.Archived24 September 2008 at theWayback Machine
  32. ^ab5TH LD: Aso elected Japan's prime minister, to form Cabinet,Kyodo News International(24 September 2008).
  33. ^"The Constitution of Japan"Archived14 December 2013 at theWayback Machine.Translation (presumably of non-official) available on the Cabinet PR site.
  34. ^"Japan ruling party leader elected prime minister"[dead link‍],from The Associated Press onThe Washington Post,24 September 2008.
  35. ^"Aso elected premier / Announces Cabinet lineup himself; poll likely on Nov. 2",The Yomiuri Shimbun, 25 September 2005.[dead link‍]
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  37. ^Harden, Blaine."Japan's Beleaguered Leader to See Obama,"The Washington Post.24 February 2009.
  38. ^"Taro Aso confirmed as Japan's PM".BBC News.24 September 2008.Retrieved23 July2009.
  39. ^"Aso again says no election soon. Dealing with economic crisis takes priority".The Japan Times.16 March 2009.Retrieved23 July2009.
  40. ^"Japan's PM Aso calls August vote".BBC News.13 July 2009.Retrieved23 July2009.
  41. ^"Lower house dissolved for general election. Aso says seeks 'a mandate from the public'".The Japan Times.21 July 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 24 July 2009.Retrieved23 July2009.
  42. ^abMcCurry, Justin (23 March 2007)."Blue eyes, blond hair: that's US problem, says Japanese minister".The Guardian.London.Retrieved19 September2007.
  43. ^Christopher Reed,"Ghosts of Wartime Japan Haunt Koizumi's Cabinet"Archived27 September 2007 at theWayback Machine,New America Media,3 November 2005.
  44. ^Kyodo,"Taiwan colonization was 'good': Aso",The Japan Times Online,5 February 2006.
  45. ^"Japan alarmed by Chinese 'threat'",BBC,22 December 2005.
  46. ^Kyodo, "Aso rapped for emperor shrine visit remark",CHINAdaily.cn,29 January 2006.
  47. ^"MDN.mainichi-msn.co.jp".[permanent dead link‍]
  48. ^"Tân tổng tài ma sinh thị phát ngôn lục",しんぶん xích kỳ,Japanese Communist Party, 13 September 2008.
  49. ^Yahoo,"World religions can learn from Japan: PM",Yahoo!News,9 January 2009.
  50. ^"Japanese deputy PM sorry for harsh remarks about seniors." Ottawa Citizen. (23 January 2013 Wednesday ): 174 words. Web. Date Accessed: 2017/10/30.
  51. ^McCurry, Justin (22 January 2013)."Let elderly people 'hurry up and die', says Japanese minister".The Guardian.Tokyo.Retrieved28 August2020.
  52. ^"Gaffe-prone Taro Aso puts his foot in it again." China Daily. (9 December 2014 Tuesday ): 260 words. Web. Date Accessed: 2017/10/30.
  53. ^abMcCurry, Justin (30 August 2017)."Japanese minister Taro Aso praises Hitler, saying he had 'right motives'".The Guardian– via theguardian.
  54. ^"In media jab, beleaguered Finance Minister Taro Aso ties lack of young newspaper readers to LDP's 'popularity'".The Japan Times.24 June 2018.
  55. ^"Taro Aso repeats comment on alleged sexual harassment that sparked nationwide protest one day earlier".The Japan Times Online.8 May 2018.ISSN0447-5763.Retrieved21 July2018.
  56. ^"Japanese Official Says Font Size on Sexual Harassment Complaint Was Too Small".Bloomberg L.P.Retrieved21 July2018.
  57. ^"Former Japanese prime minister says global warming has made rice" tastier "".Newsweek.26 October 2021.Retrieved26 October2021.
  58. ^"Ex-PM Aso's crude critique exposes Japan's ongoing sexism impasse".Kyodo News.30 January 2024.Retrieved30 January2024.
  59. ^"Ex-Japan PM Aso retracts sexist remarks against female foreign minister".Kyodo News.3 February 2024.Retrieved3 February2024.
  60. ^Underwood, William, "Aso Mining's POW labor: the evidence",Japan Times,29 May 2007.
  61. ^Underwood, William, "WWII forced labor issue dogs Aso, Japanese firms",Japan Times,28 October 2008, p. 16.
  62. ^Ito, Masami, "It's official: Aso family mine used POW labor",Japan Times,19 December 2008, p. 1.
  63. ^"Ito, Masami,"Pair seek POW apology from Aso",Japan Times,20 June 2009, p. 2.
  64. ^Reuters "Japan PM Faces Reading Test As Popularity SagsArchived1 February 2009 at theWayback Machine","Javno ", 20 January 2009.
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  67. ^Lầm đọc liền phát の ma sinh は “Đọc tự chướng hại”? Dưỡng lão Mạnh tư thị が phân tíchArchived30 January 2009 at theWayback Machine
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  75. ^"“Ngự trạch tộc” hành “Truyện tranh ngoại giao” chịu người trẻ tuổi truy phủng ( "Otaku" 's "Manga diplomacy" celebrated by youngsters) ".Wenweipo.23 September 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 3 June 2013.Retrieved27 March2009.
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Political offices
Preceded by Director General of the Economic Planning Agency
1996–1997 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy
2001 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications
2003–2005
Preceded by Minister for Foreign Affairs
2005–2007 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Prime Minister of Japan
2008–2009 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Deputy Prime Minister of Japan
2012–2021 		Vacant
Preceded by Minister of Finance
2012–2021 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister of State for Financial Services
2012–2021
Party political offices
Preceded by Director of the Youth Division,
Liberal Democratic Party
1982–1984 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chairman of the Policy Research Council,
Liberal Democratic Party
2001-2003 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Secretary-General of the Liberal Democratic Party
2007 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Secretary-General of the Liberal Democratic Party
2008 		Succeeded by
Preceded by President of the Liberal Democratic Party
2008–2009 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Vice President of the Liberal Democratic Party
2021–2024 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tarō_Asō&oldid=1260837359"