Mori Yoshiro: Man and Politician

Abstract

The article is devoted to life and activities of Mori Yoshiro, one of the most distinguished and colorful politicians of contemporary Japan. The article addresses Yoshiro’s childhood and youth years, when his interest to sport was revealed, and, first of all, to rugby. This, in many aspects, assisted the formation of his views on relations between people. Considerable attention is devoted to the role of Yoshiro’s father in his education, to the influence of his precepts on his life choice, to the basic guidelines of his political philosophy. For forty-three years Mori, as a Member of Parliament, was in the center of political life in Japan. Fourteen times he was a winner in the election to the highest legislative body of Japan. He occupied the leading posts in the Liberal Democratic party, and once was the head of the Cabinet. He is known as a proponent of active Japan-Russian relations and a supporter of a compromise-based solution of the territorial problem. Upon retirement from political career, he plays a big role in Japan’s public life. Since 2014, he is the Chairman of the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games of 2020. The author focuses on the achievements and difficulties in Mori’s life way.