Miyazawa: Embodiment of postwar politics

Former Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa's glorious political career reflects many important phases in Japan's post-World War II political scene. He was a living witness to the postwar political history of this country.

On Thursday, Miyazawa died as a highly seasoned politician who served as prime minister from November 1991 to August 1993.

In 1951, Miyazawa attended the San Francisco peace conference as part of the Japanese delegation. During those days, he was serving as secretary to then Finance Minister Hayato Ikeda.

Later, Miyazawa entered politics. In 1991, he became prime minister after serving in such important positions as director general of the Economic Planning Agency, international trade and industry minister, foreign minister, chief cabinet secretary and finance minister. By assuming these portfolios, Miyazawa continued to play a key role in the nation's political decision-making process.

Miyazawa was a politician from the conservative mainstream that originated with former Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida. He witnessed Japan's restoration of sovereignty and its return to the international community, the nation's success in rebuilding itself in the postwar era and achieving high economic growth and its eventual rise as an economic power. Throughout his political career, Miyazawa stuck to his belief that Japan should remain a lightly armed nation seeking economic prosperity. Miyazawa's faith in this respect served as a philosophical base for his political career.

Premiership too late in life

Miyazawa was described as a standard-bearer for the New Right and part of the so-called "new leader" trio for his fame as an international statesman of great intellect and policy expertise. No one doubted he would someday become prime minister.

However, he was 72 years old when he reached the pinnacle of his political career by becoming prime minister. This country was experiencing great changes both at home and abroad, including the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the bubble economy. The time when Miyazawa could perform to his fullest had long passed. His rise to eminence as prime minister had come too late.

Ultimately, Miyazawa's fall from grace as prime minister coincided with an end to the Liberal Democratic Party's long reign and the collapse of the so-called 1955 system.

Miyazawa often said: "A nation can be governed either by the rule of right or the rule of might. I will not stand by the rule of might. The position of prime minister should not be acquired by really trying to." He was tipped as a candidate for prime minister many times. But his lack of lust for power meant he lost several opportunities to take power.

Miyazawa was occasionally called "a self-composed rationalist who doesn't try to take the blame." This attitude was reflected in his failure to demonstrate a strong leadership role in resolving a variety of problems facing the country.

Little success in finance role

During his tenure as prime minister, Miyazawa called public attention to problems arising from massive nonperforming loans held by banks as a result of the collapse of the bubble economy. But he did not bother to take measures to address the problems. His failure to do so served to prolong the economic slump, leaving the recession further exacerbated.

In 1998, Miyazawa was named finance minister under the new administration of Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi amid an unparalleled economic crisis. Obuchi asked Miyazawa to take up the portfolio.

Miyazawa was known as "the Korekiyo Takahashi of the Heisei era" for his resemblance to the latter in the circumstances surrounding their appointment to the position. During the prewar days, Takahashi was named finance minister after first serving as prime minister. As finance minister, he successfully laid a financial crisis to rest.

However, Miyazawa failed to bail the country out of the economic crisis with which he was faced.

Since taking office, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been calling for "a departure from the postwar regime." How, we wonder, did Miyazawa--a politician who may be called the embodiment of the postwar regime--view the political scene at the end of his life?