Kakuei Tanaka

Kakuei Tanaka (田中 角栄 Tanaka Kakuei May 4, 1918–December 16, 1993) was a Japanese politician and the 64th and 65th Prime Minister of Japan from July 7,1972 to December 22,1972 and from December 22, 1972 to December 9, 1974 respectively. He was also the most influential member of the ruling LDP until the mid-1980's, when he fell from power after a long series of scandals.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Tanaka was born into a rural family with seven children in Nishiyama, Niigata Prefecture. His father was involved with a distastrous venture to start Niigata's first dairy farm, and so the family scraped by in abject poverty. Kakuei left school after the equivalent of the eighth grade and went to work in the construction business, and soon moved to Tokyo.

May 4: May 4 is the 124th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (125th in leap years). There are 241 days remaining....

1918: 1918 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar....

December 16: December 16 is the 350th day of the year (351st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 15 days remaining....