Toshio Kimura


Toshio Kimura was a Japanese politician who served as foreign minister for six months in 1974.

Early life

Kimura was born into a politically active family on 15 January 1909. His father and grandfather were both lawmakers.

Career

Kimura was elected to the House of Representatives for 12 times as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. In addition, he served as chief cabinet secretary in the cabinet of then prime minister Eisaku Satō. He was also chairman of the Parliamentarians' League for Japan-Palestine Friendship. He organized late Yasser Arafat's visit to Japan in 1981.
His other posts include director-general of the economic planning agency and deputy chief cabinet secretary. In 1971, Kimura served as acting foreign minister. He was appointed foreign minister by then prime minister Kakuei Tanaka in mid-July 1974, replacing Masayoshi Ohira. Kimura was in office for six months in 1974. Kimura visited Africa in late October and early November 1974, which was a beginning of cooperation between African countries and Japan. He was the first senior Japanese government official to visit African countries. His Africa visit included Ghana, Nigeria, Zaire, Tanzania, and Egypt. Then Kimura became head of the LDP's Asian-African Studies Group in 1977.

Personal life

Kimura was married and had a daughter.

Death

Kimura died of a heart attack at a hospital in Tokyo on 1 December 1983. He was 74.

Honours