Wataru Takeshita

Wataru Takeshita (竹下 亘, Takeshita Wataru) was born on November 3, 1946, in Kakeya, Shimane Prefecture, Japan. He graduated from Keio University. He was a member of the House of Representatives in Japan's national legislature, the Diet, representing the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Takeshita was first elected to the House of Representatives in the year 2000.

Prior to his political career, Takeshita worked as a reporter for NHK, Japan's public broadcasting organization. In 1985, he began working as an aide to his elder brother, Noboru Takeshita, who served as Prime Minister of Japan.

He served as the leader of the Heisei Kenkyukai faction from 2018 until his death in 2021. During this period, he supported Yoshihide Suga in the 2020 leadership election of the LDP.

Takeshita was affiliated with Nippon Kaigi, a revisionist organization that advocates for historical and national revisionist policies in Japan. He held anti-homosexual views publicly.

In July 2021, Takeshita announced his intention to retire from politics at the upcoming general election due to health reasons. He had been diagnosed with esophageal cancer in 2019. Despite his health issues, he remained in office until his death.

Wataru Takeshita died on September 17, 2021, while still serving as a member of the House of Representatives.