Yasuhiro Nakasone

Yasuhiro Nakasone (中曽根 康弘 Nakasone Yasuhiro, b. May 27, 1918) is a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan from November 27, 1982 to November 6, 1987. A conservative contemporary of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher, he is best known for pushing through the privatization of state-owned companies, and for helping to revitalize Japanese nationalism during and after his term as prime minister.

Prime Minister

In 1982, Nakasone became Prime Minister. Along with Minister of Foreign Affairs Abe Shintaro, Nakasone improved Japan's relations with the USSR and with the People's Republic of China. Nakasone was best known for his close relationship with U.S. President Ronald Reagan, popularly called the "Ron-Yasu" friendship. In domestic policy, Nakasone's most notable policy was his privatization initiative, which led to the breakup of Japan National Railways into the modern JR group of companies.

Related Topics:
1982 - Abe Shintaro - USSR - People's Republic of China - Ronald Reagan - Privatization - Japan National Railways - JR

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Nakasone also became known for having a nationalist attitude. In 1985, he became the first Japanese prime minister to visit the controversial Yasukuni Shrine. During his last term in office, he gained notoriety among the various non-Japanese ethnic groups in Japan (particularly the sizeable Korean minority) for proclaiming that Japan's success was because it did not have ethnic minorities, like the US. He then clarified his comments, stating that he meant to congratulate the US on its economic success despite the presence of "problematic" minorities. Due to this issue, Masayuki Fujio, the Minister of Education, had to resign in 1986.

Related Topics:
Nationalist - 1985 - Yasukuni Shrine - Masayuki Fujio - 1986

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