Tokuo Yamashita (山下 徳夫, Yamashita Tokuo, 7 October 1919 – 1 January 2014) was a Japanese politician.

Tokou Yamashita
山下 徳夫
Minister of Health and Welfare
In office
5 November 1991 – 12 December 1992
Prime MinisterKiichi Miyazawa
Preceded byShinichiro Shimojo
Succeeded byYuya Niwa
Chief Cabinet Secretary
In office
10 August 1989 – 26 August 1989
Prime MinisterToshiki Kaifu
Preceded byMasajuro Shiokawa
Succeeded byMayumi Moriyama
Head of the Management and Coordination Agency
In office
26 January 1986 – 6 November 1987
Prime MinisterYasuhiro Nakasone
Preceded byKazuo Tamaki
Succeeded byOsamu Takatori
Minister of Transport
In office
1 November 1984 – 28 December 1985
Prime MinisterYasuhiro Nakasone
Preceded byGichizo Hosoda
Succeeded byHiroshi Mitsuzuka
Personal details
Born7 October 1919
Imari, Empire of Japan
Died1 January 2014(2014-01-01) (aged 94)
Imari, Saga, Japan
Alma materMeiji University
Senshu University

Life

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Born in Imari, and a graduate of Fukuoka Middle School (present-day Fukuoka Prefectural Fukuoka High School), he studied law first at Meiji University and then at Senshu University, graduating in 1944.

After honing his skills as a politician in the Saga Prefectural Assembly (where he eventually became speaker), he was elected to the House of Representatives in 1969 on a ticket from the Liberal Democratic Party. After that, he won reelection ten times in a row. In Yasuhiro Nakasone's second cabinet, he was named Transport minister. In Nakasone's third cabinet he was to lead the Management and Coordination Agency.

In Toshiki Kaifu's first cabinet he was named Chief Cabinet Secretary, but had to resign after only 16 days due to a sex scandal.[1]

In Kiichi Miyazawa's cabinet he was Minister of Health, Labour, and Welfare.[2]

Between 1988 and 2003 he was chairperson of the board of trustees of his alma mater, Senshu University.

He retired from national politics in 2000, but remained an adviser for the Saga branch of the LDP.

He died in Imari on 1 January 2014.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Sex scandal forces out key official". The Register Guard. Eugene, Oregon. 25 August 1989. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  2. ^ 山下徳夫氏死去=元官房長官 [Former Chief Cabinet Secretary Norio Yamashita passes away] (in Japanese). Jiji Press. 2 January 2014. Archived from the original on 3 January 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  3. ^ 山下徳夫元厚相が死去国鉄民営化に尽力 [Former Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Norio Yamashita passes away. He was instrumental in privatizing the Japanese National Railways.] (in Japanese). Kyodo. 2 January 2014. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
Political offices
Preceded by
Kichizo Hosoda
Minister of Transportation
1984–1985
Succeeded by
Hiroshi Mitsuzuka
Preceded by
Kazuo Tamaki
Director General of the Management and Coordination Agency
1987
Succeeded by
Osamu Takatori
Preceded by Chief Cabinet Secretary
1989
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Shinichiro Shimojo
Minister of Health and Welfare
1991–1992
Succeeded by
House of Representatives (Japan)
Preceded by
Nobuyuki Hanashi
Chair, Social and Labour Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives of Japan
1980–1981
Succeeded by
Shunjiro Karasawa
Preceded by
Yataro Mitsubayashi
Chair, Transportation Committee of the House of Representatives of Japan
1986
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Hikosaburo Okonogi
Chair, Rules and Administration Committee of the House of Representatives of Japan
1990–1991
Succeeded by