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On October 17, 2020, the Prime Minister attended the Cabinet and Liberal Democratic Party of Japan (LDP) Joint Funeral Service for NAKASONE Yasuhiro held in Tokyo, in the presence of Their Imperial Highnesses Crown Prince and Crown Princess Akishino.

The Prime Minister offered a silent prayer and delivered a memorial address, followed by the offering of flowers.

The Prime Minister said in his memorial address,

“Here today, I reverently offer a memorial address on the occasion of the Cabinet and LDP Joint Funeral Service for the late Nakasone Yasuhiro, recipient of the Grand Cordon of the Supreme Orders of the Chrysanthemum, former Prime Minister, and former President of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan (LDP).

Mr. Nakasone was born in Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture, in 1918. After growing up, he served in the Home Ministry. After World War II, he went into politics in 1947 and was elected as a member of the House of Representatives for the first time at age 28. After that, he won 20 consecutive elections, serving as a key figure in the Government over 56 years, including in important positions such as Director-General of the Science and Technology Agency, Minister of Transport, Director-General of the Defense Agency, Minister of International Trade and Industry and Director-General of the then Administrative Management Agency.

Mr. Nakasone was appointed as Prime Minister in November 1982. He undertook the heavy responsibilities of the Prime Minister for approximately five years, raising the banner of the total reassessment of Japan’s postwar politics and preparing new structures to welcome a new era in traditional systems and practices.

When he was appointed, Japan was facing the hardships of the world, such as military confrontations between the east and the west, a slump in the global economy, and surfacing trade frictions. Domestically too, as it marked the 100th year since the establishment of the Cabinet system and the 40th year since World War II, Japan faced many new challenges related to the great changes of societal transformation, such as the advance of a rapidly aging society. At such a major turning point both domestically and overseas, Mr. Nakasone gave his very all to pave a new way for the next generation.

In particular, at home, he prioritized administrative reform as one of his most important issues. From the perspective of preventing the bloating of the public sector and utilizing the free creativity of the private sector, he decisively carried out the division and privatization of Japanese National Railways, and the privatization of the Japan Tobacco and Salt Public Corporation and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation.

He also strongly promoted drastic cost reduction and rationalization as well as fiscal consolidation under the basic principle of fiscal reconstruction without tax increases, such as reducing administrative expenses and advancing efficient budgeting.

On the diplomatic front, from the position of actively contributing to the peace and prosperity of the international community, he strengthened relationships with the United States and other countries, and greatly improved the international standing of Japan.

Mr. Nakasone cherished the three concepts of forging connections, respecting connections, and following connections; and had built connections with many people. In particular, I cannot help but think upon the strong bonds he had with his family, including the late Mrs. Nakasone, his wife. I want to express my heartfelt sympathy for the deep grief of his family, who supported him for so long.

Mr. Nakasone looked ahead to the future generations of Japan, implemented necessary reforms, and contributed to the peace and prosperity of the international community. I want to end my remarks by expressing my pledge to inherit the spirit of the reforms he promoted and exert every effort in my own work. May he rest in peace.”