Naoko Takeshita

Naoko Takeshita (born September 9, 1926 – September 20, 2010) was a Japanese politician's wife, wife of Tsutomu Takeshita. As the spouse of Prime Minister Tsutomu Takeshita (the 74th Prime Minister), she also fulfilled the role of "First Lady." Her maiden name was Endo, and she had a family background from Shimane Prefecture.

Her biography states that she was born on September 9, 1926, in Shimane Prefecture, as the daughter of Shiro Endo, a bank clerk. She graduated from Jūmonji High School for Girls (now Jūmonji High School). During the prewar and wartime periods, due to family circumstances and her interactions with the Takeshita family, she lived mainly in Tokyo and Shimane Prefecture. She also experienced evacuation to the Takeshita household during the war.

In 1946, at the age of 19, Naoko married Tsutomu Takeshita, who was a distant relative and had lost his previous wife. After marriage, Naoko and Tsutomu Takeshita had one son and three daughters.

Her family includes her eldest son, Rikiō, as well as grandchildren such as Eiki Kageki (a manga artist) and DAIGO (a musician). Particularly, DAIGO became known through TV appearances and fan activities.

There are few records concerning Naoko's political or social activities; most information from around her husband's appointment as Prime Minister highlights her domestic personality and household anecdotes. As a Prime Minister's wife, she maintained a modest demeanor, avoided criticism from the media and journalists during her husband's tenure, and demonstrated a homemaker's side by serving home-cooked meals.

She was also skilled at playing mahjong, having recorded wins against Keiichi Obuchi and Yasuo Kawnai. Her grandson, Eiki Kageki, describes her mahjong skill as "the strongest in the family."

In her later years, Naoko paid attention to beauty and health, frequently exchanging mobile emails with her grandchildren. In June 2010, she was hospitalized with pneumonia, recovered and was discharged, but on September 19 of the same year, she was once again rushed to hospital due to a fever and subsequently passed away. She was 84 years old at the time. Her posthumous Buddhist name was Myoko-in Shaku Naido, and her funeral was officiated by her eldest daughter’s husband, politician Kenmaru Yasunobu.

After her death, details about her family and episodes have been publicly recorded.