Former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda dies at 90

As of 7:09 a.m. ET, Oct. 26, 2026

Former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who led the country for about a year from 2007 to 2008, has died at 90, Kyodo News and NHK reported Monday.

Fukuda died Oct. 22 of heart failure at a hospital in Tokyo, the Nikkei business daily reported. The Gunma regional newspaper Jomo Shimbun, citing people familiar with the matter, also reported that he died on the 22nd. Kyodo said the ruling Liberal Democratic Party announced his death Monday.

Fukuda became prime minister in September 2007 after the abrupt resignation of Shinzo Abe and stepped down in September 2008, when he was succeeded by Taro Aso, Kyodo reported. Kyodo said he was the first Japanese prime minister whose father had also held the office; Takeo Fukuda was premier from 1976 to 1978.

His government struggled with a divided parliament after the LDP-led coalition lost its upper house majority in 2007, according to Kyodo. Fukuda chaired the Group of Eight summit at Lake Toya in Hokkaido in July 2008. He was known for a dovish diplomatic stance and efforts to strengthen ties with China, visiting Beijing in December 2007 and hosting then-Chinese President Hu Jintao in May 2008, Kyodo reported.

Before becoming prime minister, Fukuda served as chief Cabinet secretary for about three and a half years under Prime Ministers Yoshiro Mori and Junichiro Koizumi, Kyodo said. He worked for an oil company for 17 years before entering politics, won a lower house seat representing Gunma Prefecture in 1990 and retired after his seventh term in 2012.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi expressed "deep sorrow" and praised Fukuda as a leader who "worked to articulate Japan's position on various international issues and enhance its standing in the international community," Kyodo reported. A private funeral was held for close family, with a public memorial service to follow at a later date, according to Kyodo.