Ryutaro Hashimoto

Prime Minister of Japan

29 July 1937 Sōja, Okayama, Empire of Japan

1 July 2006(2006-07-01) (68) Tokyo, Japan

11 January 1996 – 30 July 1998

Japanese politician Ryutaro Hashimoto (橋本 龍太郎 , Hashimoto Ryūtarō, 29 July 1937 – 1 July 2006) was a Japanese politician who served as the Prime Minister of Japan from 1996 to 1998. He was the leader of one of the largest factions within the ruling LDP through most of the 1990s and remained a powerful back-room player in Japanese politics until scandal forced him to resign his leadership position in 2004. Disgraced, he chose not to stand in the general election of 2005, and effectively retired from politics. He died on 1 July 2006 at a Tokyo hospital.