Photo/Illutration Mikio Aoki in 2010 (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

Mikio Aoki, a former chief Cabinet secretary who was known as the “don of the Upper House” because of his power in the Diet chamber, died on June 11. He was 89.

Originally from Shimane Prefecture, Aoki started his political career as an aide to Noboru Takeshita, who was also from the prefecture and later became a prime minister.

After serving a few terms as a member of the Shimane prefectural assembly, Aoki was elected to the Upper House in 1986.

Aoki served as the top government spokesman in the administrations of Keizo Obuchi and his successor, Yoshiro Mori, in 1999 and 2000.

In April 2000, after a stroke put Obuchi into a coma, Aoki became acting prime minister and had the Cabinet resign en masse.

Aoki was one of five kingmakers in the LDP who chose Mori behind closed doors to officially succeed Obuchi.

After resigning as chief Cabinet secretary, Aoki returned to the post of secretary-general of the LDP’s Upper House caucus.

Boasting of a wide network among lawmakers of the ruling and opposition parties, he effectively put the passage of bills under his control in the Upper House, in which the LDP did not have a majority.

As Aoki exerted his influence during the administrations of Obuchi, Mori and Junichiro Koizumi, he was called the “don of the Upper House.”

He stepped down as chairman of the LDP’s Upper House caucus and left the party's leadership lineup after the LDP suffered a big loss in the 2007 Upper House election.

Aoki suffered a stroke and retired as lawmaker in 2010. His son, Kazuhiko, has taken over his constituency.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno on June 12 paid tribute to Aoki. They both attended Waseda University.

“He was trusted by lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties,” Matsuno said. “As a politician, I admire how he built up mutual trust with others.”

Azuma Koshiishi headed the Upper House caucus of the now-defunct Democratic Party of Japan during the 2000s, when the chamber was evenly split. 

“He is an unforgettable figure in my political career,” Koshiishi said of Aoki, his counterpart in the LDP. “He taught me, across party lines, how the Upper House should work as the chamber of wisdom and reconsideration.

“We worked together to put greater focus on audits and official development assistance.”

Koshiishi said he and Aoki shared the view that the Upper House, which cannot be dissolved during a term, can and should deliberate on the most important issues for the nation.

“The idea is still relevant as we address the aging population and security issues,” Koshiishi said.

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