Nobukazu Kishi

Nobukazu Kishi (born November 26, 1921 – October 7, 2017) was a Japanese businessman. He served as the Chief Cabinet Secretary's aide and was the chairman of West Petroleum (now UBE).

Life and Career

He was born in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, in 1921. His father was Nobusuke Kishi, a bureaucrat and politician, and his mother was Kishi Yoshiko, a samurai family woman from Yamaguchi Prefecture. Nobukazu Kishi suffered from poliomyelitis at age three, which caused him to drag his leg throughout his life.

Education

He was attending Kyoto Imperial University.

Family

His father was Nobusuke Kishi (the 56th and 57th Prime Minister of Japan), and his mother was Kishi Yoshiko from a samurai family. His wife was Nakako Kishi (daughter of Yuzuru Tanabe, chairman of Yamaguchi Prefectural Assembly), but they later divorced. His sister was Yoko Abe, who married politician Shintaro Abe. As an adopted son, he took in politician Nobuo Kishi, who was adopted from the Abe family. He had no biological children.

Relatives

- His uncles include Eisaku Sato (the 61st, 62nd, and 63rd Prime Minister of Japan) and Ichiro Sato (a Vice Admiral in the Navy).

- His aunt by marriage was Hiromi Sato (daughter of physician Masukesu Sato).

- His cousins include Shinji Sato (a politician, second son of Eisaku Sato).

- His nephews are Shinzo Abe (the 90th, 96th, 97th, and 98th Prime Minister of Japan) and Hiroshi Abe (businessman).

Career

After graduating from Kyoto Imperial University, he joined Ube Industries (now UBE) in 1948. During the prewar period, his relative Nobusuke Kishi was Prime Minister, and during a visit to see Kishi who was detained as a war criminal, Shunichi Fukuie, who was visiting Kishi, warned him, “It would be problematic if Nobukazu becomes Daisuke Namba,” which prompted him to join the company.

Political Activities

Nobukazu Kishi served as the Chief Cabinet Secretary's aide during the time Nobusuke Kishi was Prime Minister. After his brother-in-law Shintaro Abe resigned to run for the House of Representatives, he was appointed as a substitute Chief Cabinet Secretary.

Subsequently, he joined West Petroleum and eventually served as its chairman.

Death

He died on October 7, 2017, with his death announced on the same day. He was 95 years old.

Sources

No specific references are provided.

References

- Kenya Matsuda, "The Peak Family – Prince Shintaro Abe and Six 'Family' Members" (Kodansha, 2015)