He was born in Gunma prefecture. He was Minister of Science in 1959 under the governement of Kishi Nobusuke, then Minister of Transport in 1967, head of the Agency of Defense in 1970, Minister of International Trade and Industry in 1972 and Minister of Administration in 1981.
Nakasone gained notoriety among the various non-Japanese ethnic groups in Japan (particularly the sizeable Korean minority) for proclaiming that Japan's success was because it did not have ethnic minorities, like the US. He then clarified his comments, stating that he means to congratulate the US on its economic success despite the presence of "problematic" minorities. Due to this issue, Fujio Masayuki, the Minister of Education, had to resign in 1986. Abe Shintaro was the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
He was replaced by Takeshita Noboru.
See also: List of Japanese politicians, Politics of Japan, History of Japan, Japan
The government of Nakasone
Preceded by:
Suzuki ZenkoPrime ministers of Japan
Succeeded by:
Takeshita Noboru