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Article: Japan's next prime minister? (Ryutaro Hashimoto)
- Article from:
- The Economist (US)
- Article date:
- September 23, 1995
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1995 Economist Newspaper Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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RYUTARO HASHIMOTO did not have to fight to launch himself in politics. When his father died in 1963, he inherited a vote- gathering machine that propelled him smoothly into Japan's parliament at the tender age of 26. His marriage, three years later, was brokered by none other than Japan's then prime minister. Powerful friends and an early start are handy assets in Japan's political world, where patronage and patience are the keys to promotion.
Mr Hashimoto held his first cabinet post in 1978. And, at mid-week, it seemed all but certain that he would be elected president of his Liberal Democratic Party on September 22nd. Since the LDP dominates the coalition ...