Ryutaro Hashimoto
Ryutaro Hashimoto (橋本 龍太郎) was prime minister of Japan.
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History
Hashimoto was elected to the diet in 1963 for the LDP.
In the JSP-led coalition government, Hashimoto served as Minister of International Trade and Industry. In September 1995 a leadership contest was held, in which Hashimoto beat out rivals including Junichirou Koizumi.
After Tomiichi Murayama resigned as prime minister, Hashimoto led the LDP into regaining power. The coalition devolved into a supply-and-confidence agreement.
Trying to solve the issue of leading a minority government, Hashimoto called for the 1998 House of Councilors elections. Instead the LDP lost seats. Hashimoto resigned as a result and Keizou Obuchi became prime minister.