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Politician,
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Date of Birth: January 14 1944 |
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Photo © 2001 Kjeld Duits |
Outspoken and colorful, Makiko Tanaka is extremely popular
among the Japanese; in opinion polls she is often one of the
top candidates for prime minister.
Many believe it was Tanaka's support during the LDP presidential
race of 2001 that helped catapult Junichiro Koizumi to the top
position.
The daughter of former Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka, Tanaka
studied for 2 years at a high school in Philadelphia, after which
she entered Waseda University in 1964. Tanaka wanted to become
an actress and joined a theatrical company, but her father forced
her to stop.
In 1968 Tanaka married. Her husband Naoki was the son of a
member of the Diet. In 1983 she campaigned on behalf of her husband
and her immense popularity helped him win an LDP seat in the
Lower House and later the Upper House.
After her father suffered a stroke in 1985, Tanaka took care
of him full-time. This experience influenced her to improve the
nation's elderly care system as a politician.
Tanaka joined the Social Democratic Party of Japan (SDPJ)
in 1991. Around this time she caused a sensation as the 'Whirlwind
Madonna'.
In May 2001 Tanaka became Japan's first female Foreign Minister
in the cabinet of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.
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TANAKA,
Makiko
