Takakichi Asō

Takahide Aso was born on September 29, 1911 (Meiji 44) in Iizuka Town, Kaho District, Fukuoka Prefecture (now Iizuka City). His father was Taro Aso, a coal mine magnate, and his mother was Natsuko, the younger sister of Viscount Hisao Kano. His grandfather was the businessman and politician Takakichi Aso, and his grandmother was Yasu, the sixth daughter of Banjirō Yukawa, a native of Fukuoka Prefecture.

In 1929 (Showa 4), he graduated from the former Fukuoka Secondary School (now Fukuoka Prefectural Fukuoka High School), and thereafter studied as a auditor at the Faculty of Law and Literature at Kyushu Imperial University (now Kyushu University) from Showa 4 to Showa 7. In 1931 (Showa 6), he joined Aso Shōten, a company run by his grandfather, and in 1934 (Showa 9), he became the company's president.

In 1935 (Showa 10), he donated 2,000 yen to the Fukuoka Prefecture branch of the Imperial Military Support Association, and was awarded a commendation in 1937 (Showa 12). Furthermore, in relation to the Showa 6 to 9 Incident (1939), he donated 4,000 yen to the Army Ministry for national defense enhancement costs and military personnel慰労金 (慰労金 means "consolation money"), and contributed 30,000 yen to the Defense Association of Fukuoka Prefecture and 400慰問袋 "慰問袋" are "care packages." He received the Navy Blue Ribbon Medal.

He served as chairman of both related companies, Aso Kōgyō and Aso Cement, gaining substantial profits. After WWII, in 1951 (Showa 26), he was appointed chairman of Kyushu Electric Power. During this period, in 1948 (Showa 23), he was summoned as a witness before the House of Representatives Special Committee Investigating Unfair Property Transactions concerning the coal national policy issue.

While staying in London, he was introduced to Shigeru Yoshida's third daughter, Kazuko, through Jiro Shirasu, and after returning to Japan, they married. Kazuko was a devout Catholic, and Aso was also a Catholic.

In the 24th general election of the House of Representatives in 1949 (Showa 24), he ran as a candidate from Fukuoka Prefecture as the husband of Yoshida Shigeru's daughter Kazuko and was elected. He served as a member of the House of Representatives for three terms in total. In his political activities, he handled the financial support for Shigeru Yoshida's political campaigns and served as a liaison between the political and business circles. Notably, he became close with Kakuei Tanaka and played a role in the movements leading to Ichiro Ikeda's appointment as Minister of Finance.

During pre-war and wartime diplomatic negotiations, he supported Yoshida Shigeru during the peace treaty negotiations just before the signing of the San Francisco Peace Treaty, amid opposition from ruling and opposition parties. Following the resignation of the Yoshida cabinet, he retired from politics and returned to the business world.

In his private life, he was a devout Catholic along with his wife Kazuko, who was a faithful Protestant as well. In 1965 (Showa 40), he became chairman of the Japan Coal Industry Association, and in 1969 (Showa 44), he was awarded the Blue Ribbon Medal. He died on December 2, 1980 (Showa 55) at the age of 69. Posthumously, he was awarded an imperial commendation, and his death date was designated as the date of his court rank promotion to Senior Fourth Rank, Second Class, along with the conferment of the Order of the Sacred Treasure. He was buried at Aoyama Cemetery.

The Aso family genealogy includes his grandfather Takakichi Aso, his father Taro Aso, his eldest son Taro Aso (later the 92nd Prime Minister of Japan), his second son Jiro Aso (businessman), his eldest daughter Yukiko Aso (wife of Kazuhide Soma), his second daughter Tanco Aso (wife of the Japanese ambassador to Spain), and his third daughter Nobuko Aso (Princess Hiroan). His grandchildren include Isamu Aso (businessman) and Masahiro Aso.

Relatives also include the artist Tachibana Tenkō, who claimed to be a descendant of Emperor Meiji, and his cousin Hiromisuke Oi, a literary critic.