Ex-Japanese Prime Minister Takeo Miki, 81, Dies
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TOKYO —
Former Japanese Prime Minister Takeo Miki, known as “Mr. Clean” because of his pledge to end big-money politics, died in Tokyo today. He was 81.
Miki, who held office from 1974 to 1976, died of heart failure after having been in the hospital for the last two years, his doctor said.
He was one of the longest-serving Parliament members in Japan’s history and had held a number of ministerial posts, including that of foreign minister, as well as being prime minister.
Miki took office after Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka was forced to resign over financial irregularities. He relinquished the post in 1976 as the Lockheed bribery scandal engulfed the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
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