Ryutaro Hashimoto was a Japanese politician who served as the Prime Minister of Japan from 1996 to 1998. He was the leader of one of the largest factions within the ruling LDP through most of the 1990s and remained a powerful back-room player in Japanese politics until scandal forced him to resign his leadership position in 2004. Disgraced, he chose not to stand in the general election of 2005, and effectively retired from politics.
Official portrait, 1996
with Tomiichi Murayama and the Ministers of Murayama Government (at the Prime Minister's Official Residence on 30 June 1994)
Hashimoto with Bill Clinton (at Akasaka Palace on 17 April 1996)
Hashimoto with William Cohen (at the Prime Minister's Official Residence on 9 April 1997)
Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)
The Liberal Democratic Party , frequently abbreviated to LDP or Jimintō (自民党), is a major conservative and Japanese nationalist political party in Japan.
Launching convention, 15 November 1955
Liberal Democratic Hall Bldg., Headquarters of the LDP in Tokyo