born June 25, 1937, Nakanoj 014D; , Japan
died May 14, 2000, Tokyo
Japanese politician.
A graduate of Waseda University, he was first elected to the Diet (legislature) in 1963, where he spent 12 terms, serving as chairman of the finance committee (1976) and minister for foreign affairs (1997). As Japan's prime minister (19982000), Obuchi had to deal with Japan's flagging economy and the related Asian economic crisis.