THE PASSING OF A FRIEND.

• Author: Malmgren, Harald B.
• Position: Former Japanese Prime Minister Noboru Takeshita - Brief Article - Obituary

Former Japanese Prime Minister Noboru Takeshita, a friend of this magazine, died quietly on June 19th. Slight in stature, the shortest G7 leader in recent decades, he was a political giant. President Reagan recognized his power and pragmatism, and felt "you can do business with this man." No other Japanese politician in the last three decades had as much influence inside Japan, or on behalf of Japan, in the world. He was a friend of America, and of international cooperation in dealing with global economic problems.

Some twenty years ago, he somehow became my tutor in the intricacies of Japanese politics and bureaucracy. He revealed encyclopedic knowledge of every politician of every party in the parliament, young and old, as well as personal knowledge of every important bureaucrat across virtually every ministry and agency. Because of this, he knew every key to the great organ of government, and could play grand music that often only he could hear. He ruled not by threats but by inspiring loyalty, or the belief that whatever plan he pursued would be a winner. Takeshita always sought common ground, unlike the other senior LDP party figures who worked together while conspiring against each other. He became trusted when no one else could be trusted. He could gain the cooperation of other competing parties. Takeshita was the real, albeit invisible, leader of deregulation and modernization of the party and of Japanese politics -- even though his public reputation was the...