Shigeru Yoshida

Shigeru Yoshida was a Japanese diplomat and politician who served as prime minister of Japan from 1946 to 1947 and from 1948 to 1954. He was one of the longest-serving Japanese prime ministers, and is the third-longest serving prime minister of post-occupation Japan. He played a key role in shaping Japan's foreign policy after World War II, advocating for a close alliance with the United States and a focus on economic recovery. He also negotiated the peace treaty that ended the war and the security pact that established the Japan-U.S. alliance. He was known for his pragmatic and conservative approach to politics, as well as his personal charisma and influence. He was the founder of the Liberal Party, which later merged with other parties to form the Liberal Democratic Party, the dominant political force in Japan for decades. He was also the grandfather of Tarō Asō, who served as prime minister from 2008 to 2009.