Tarō Asō

Quick Facts: Who was Tarō Asō?

Subject:

Tarō Asō

Known for:

Prominent Japanese politician, former Prime Minister of Japan (2008-2009).

Born:

1940-09-20

Century / Era:

1940s Historical Era Archive

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Tarō Asō (麻生 太郎, Asō Tarō; born 20 September 1940) is a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan from 2008 to 2009. A member of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), he also served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance from 2012 to 2021. He was the longest-serving Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance in Japanese history, having previously served as Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2005 to 2007 and as Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications from 2003 to 2005. He leads the Shikōkai faction within the LDP. Asō was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1979.

Career & Major Achievements

He served in numerous ministerial roles before becoming Secretary-General of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in 2008, having also held that role temporarily in 2007. He was later elected LDP President in September 2008, becoming prime minister the same month. He led the LDP to the worst election result in its history a year later, marking only the second time in post-war Japan that a governing party had lost re-election, and resigned as the President of the party immediately afterwards. After the LDP returned to government following the 2012 election under Shinzo Abe, Asō was appointed to the Cabinet as Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, retaining those roles when Yoshihide Suga replaced Abe in 2020. After leaving cabinet, he's served as vice president of the LDP under Fumio Kishida and as senior advisor to the LDP under Shigeru Ishiba.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

He is a noted power broker inside the party, leading the Shikōkai. Asō has been attached to a number of controversies in his career. He conceded in 2008 that his family had benefitted from forced labor during World War II, although he has refused to apologize for it. Asō also had a reputation for political gaffes and controversial remarks. Taro Asō was born in Iizuka in Fukuoka Prefecture on 20 September 1940, as the eldest son of Takakichi Asō and his wife Kazuko.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1940 (1940-09-20): Birth of Tarō Asō — Prominent Japanese politician, former Prime Minister of Japan (2008-2009).
2. 1979: 1979 Milestone — Asō was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1979.
3. 2005: 2005 Milestone — He was the longest-serving Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance in Japanese history, having previously served as Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2005 to 2007 and as Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications from 2003 to 2005.
4. 2008: 2008 Milestone — He served in numerous ministerial roles before becoming Secretary-General of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in 2008, having also held that role temporarily in 2007.
5. 2012: 2012 Milestone — A member of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), he also served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance from 2012 to 2021.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Tarō Asō

True or False: “Tarō Asō was the first politician in Japanese history to serve as both Prime Minister and Finance Minister simultaneously.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While he held these roles sequentially, he was not the first; other politicians had served in combinations of these high offices previously.

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• 1940 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1940
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Frequently Asked Questions about Tarō Asō