Yūzō Takeshita

Yuzō Takeshita (June 25, 1900 – March 21, 1984) was a Japanese businessman and politician. He was from Imaichi Town, Hiuga District, Shimane Prefecture (now Izumo City), and his original family name was Takenaga. His family includes his eldest son, Kakuei Takeshita, who served as the 74th Prime Minister of Japan; manga artist Eiki Kageki; and the great-grandfather of musician DAIGO.

After graduating from Matsue Junior High School (now Matsue Kita High School) in Shimane Prefecture, he graduated in 1923 from Waseda University’s School of Political Economy (then called Department of Politics and Economics). The Takeshita family was part of a lineage of Japan’s three major timber kings and had long served as village headmen under the Tabe family, who wielded significant power throughout Izumo. Yuzō married into the Takeshita family and continued the family’s sake brewing business, serving as representative director of Takeshita Sake Brewery. While entrusting the family sake business to his wife and manager, he was known to enjoy political discussions and was popular among many women.

He maintained a relationship with the head of the Tabe family, Jūemon Tabe, and held positions such as leader of the Shimane Prefectural Youth Corps and chairman of the Tabe District Farmers' Association. He was also active as an honorary mayor of Kakeai Village and as an officer of the Imperial Support Association. In 1942, he was elected to the Shimane Prefectural Assembly, serving a four-year term. During this period, he had already been assisting Jūemon Tabe in nurturing his son Kakuei (later Prime Minister) into a politician.

In 1944, Yuzō married his wife, Yoshiko, whom he met during his studies at Waseda University. After she passed away in March 1945, he became involved with their eldest daughter, Masue. However, Masue became psychologically overwhelmed and committed suicide by hanging at home. After Kakuei was demobilized from the military, there was a fierce conflict between Yuzō and Kakuei, but it is believed they later reconciled. In 1946, Yuzō remarried to his second wife, Yoshiko’s sister, Shuko, and Kakuei also married Endō Naoko in the same year.

Following the war, Yuzō experienced several political bans but served as the chairman of the town’s Board of Education for 17 years. He died of heart failure on March 21, 1984. His funeral was held as a municipal funeral at the gymnasium in Kakeai Town, attended by many officials, including Kakuei Tanaka.

His hobbies included calligraphy, painting, and collecting antiques. He was a follower of Jōdo Shinshū Buddhism and held a third-degree black belt in judo. His family included his first wife Yoshiko and their children: eldest son Kakuei, second son Wataru (father of Saburō), third son Saburō, and eldest daughter Sakae. His elder brother was the businessman and politician Seiji Takanaga, who served as a city councilor in Imaichi and Izumo and as chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The Takanaga family played significant roles in local industry and politics.

From the 1950s onward, Yuzō played an influential role in the regional business and political spheres, contributing to local development.