Ryutaro Hashimoto

Ryutaro Hashimoto (橋本 龍太郎, Hashimoto Ryūtarō; 29 July 1937 – 1 July 2006) was a Japanese politician who served as prime minister of Japan from 1996 to 1998. Born in Okayama Prefecture, Hashimoto graduated from Keio University in 1960 and entered the National Diet in 1963. He rose through the ranks of the Liberal Democratic Party and became major figure in the Tanaka/Takeshita faction, and served as health and welfare minister under Masayoshi Ōhira, transport minister under Yasuhiro Nakasone, and finance minister under Toshiki Kaifu. In 1994, he became minister of international trade and industry, then became prime minister in 1996 as the head of a coalition with the Social Democratic Party and New Party Sakigake. During his tenure, Hashimoto sought currency reform and tried to revive the Japanese economy. He resigned after the LDP lost its majority in the 1998 upper house election, but remained leader of his faction until a scandal in 2004. He retired from politics in 2005.