Eisaku Sato

1901-1975
Japanese politician, 61st, 62nd and 63rd prime minister in years 1964–72, brother of Nobusuke Kishi. The Prime Minister of Japan is the head of government of Japan. The Prime Minister is appointed by the Emperor after being designated by the Diet from among its members, and must enjoy the confidence of the House of Representatives to remain in office. The Prime Minister is the head of the Japanese Cabinet and appoints and dismisses the Ministers of State. Eisaku Sato was born in 1901. He receiving a law degree from Tokyo Imperial University in year 1924. Tokyo Imperial University is generally ranked as Japan's most prestigious university. While nearly all academic disciplines are taught here, it is perhaps best known for its faculties of law and literature. Many top Japanese politicians are Tokyo Imperial University graduates. After University he entered the ministry of railways, serving there until 1947, when he was appointed vice minister of transportation.  He left the transportation ministry in 1948 and entered politics as a Liberal-Democratic member of the lower house of the Diet. Liberal-Democratic Party , also known as Jiyu Minshuto is the biggest Japanese political party at present (2004). It is not to be confused with the now-defunct Jiyuto (Liberal Party).  He held a variety of ministerial posts in the next several governments, including minister of construction in years 1952–53, minister of finance in years 1958–60, and minister of science and technology in years 1963–64. In 1964 he succeeded Hayato Ikeda as prime minister when ill health forced the latter to resign. Although inexperienced in international affairs, Sato pursued a vigorous foreign policy during his term in office. He negotiated an agreement in year 1965 that called for the normalization of South Korean–Japanese relations, and in 1969 he signed a treaty with the United States that led to the reestablishment in year 1972 of Japanese sovereignty in Okinawa. Okinawa Prefecture is Japan's southernmost prefecture, and consists of 169 islands known as The Ryukyu  Islands or Ryukyus, in an island chain over 1000km long, which extends southwest from Kyushu (the southwesternmost of Japan's main four islands) to Taiwan, although the northern islands in the chain are part of Kagoshima prefecture. United States Forces Japan, or USFJ, refers to the various divisions of the United States Armed Forces that are stationed in Japan. There are currently 47,000 U.S. military personnel in Japan, and another 5,500 American civilians employed there by the United States Department of Defense. He was Awarded Nobel Prize in year 1974.