Wataru Takeshita
Japanese politician (1946–2021)
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Wataru Takeshita (竹下 亘, Takeshita Wataru; 3 November 1946 – 17 September 2021) was a Japanese politician who served in the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature) as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. A native of Kakeya, Shimane and graduate of Keio University he was elected for the first time in 2000. His elder brother was former prime minister Noboru Takeshita.
Wataru Takeshita | |
|---|---|
竹下 亘 | |
Takeshita in 2014 | |
| Minister for Reconstruction | |
| In office 3 September 2014 – 7 October 2015 | |
| Prime Minister | Shinzo Abe |
| Preceded by | Takumi Nemoto |
| Succeeded by | Tsuyoshi Takagi |
| Member of the House of Representatives | |
| In office 25 June 2000 – 17 September 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Noboru Takeshita |
| Succeeded by | Yasuhiro Takami |
| Constituency | Shimane 2nd |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 3 November 1946 |
| Died | 17 September 2021 (aged 74) Tokyo, Japan |
| Party | Liberal Democratic |
| Relatives | Noboru Takeshita (brother) |
| Alma mater | Keio University |
Before entering politics in 2000, Takeshita was a reporter with NHK, then began working for his brother as an aide in 1985.[1]
He was the leader of the Heisei Kenkyukai faction from 2018 until his death 3 years later,[2] which supported Yoshihide Suga in the 2020 Liberal Democratic Party of Japan leadership election.[3]
Takeshita was affiliated to the openly revisionist organization Nippon Kaigi.[4] He held an anti-homosexual stance.[5]
In July 2021, Takeshita announced that he would be retiring from politics at the next general election for health reasons, having been diagnosed with esophageal cancer in 2019.[6] He died in office on 17 September 2021.[7]
