Japan: former prime minister Yasuo Fukuda dies at 90
The news became public on 26 October. Reuters, citing Nikkei, dates his death to 22 October; FNN reports an announcement by the Liberal Democratic Party.
Former Japanese prime minister Yasuo Fukuda has died aged 90. The news became public on Monday 26 October 2026.
Death and announcement dates
Reuters, in reporting accessible through ERT and citing the Nikkei newspaper, says he died on Thursday 22 October. Japan’s FNN, in a separate report by Fuji Television’s political department, says the Liberal Democratic Party announced his death on 26 October. Today’s date therefore concerns the public announcement.
Political career
Fukuda became prime minister in 2007, succeeding Shinzo Abe, and left office in 2008. He previously served as chief cabinet secretary under the Mori and Koizumi administrations.
He was the son of former prime minister Takeo Fukuda and Japan’s first prime minister whose father had also held the office. Gunma Prefecture’s official biography records his earlier work in the oil industry and his first election to the House of Representatives in 1990. During his public career he sought closer relations with neighbouring Asian countries, particularly China.
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