Politics and Power in 20th-Century Japan: The Reminiscences of Miyazawa Kiichi

Miyazawa Kiichi played a leading role in Japan’s government and politics from 1942 until 2003, during which time he served as Prime Minister, and also as Minister of Finance, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of International Trade and Industry, Director General of the Economic Planning Agency, and Chief Cabinet Secretary. In this oral history autobiography, he discusses with candor and detail a wide range of topics, including his 1939 visit to the United States, recovery policies during the postwar occupation, the San Francisco Peace Treaty, and Japan’s role in international organizations such as GATT and OECD, and gives a thoughtful insider’s view of six decades of Japanese politics, closing with his thoughts on Japan’s role in the 21st century.

Miyazawa’s testimony contains the unmistakable richness of the words of one who was present as history was being made. The political candor, unmatched scope, and largely first-person narrative make this book unique.