According to Jiji Press and others, Fukuda died on a Thursday and the party announced it on Monday, October 26; the exact date was not given. Bernama, citing sources, said he died of heart failure in Tokyo, that a private family funeral was held and that a public memorial will follow.

Fukuda’s time as prime minister lasted about a year and was marked by struggles in a divided parliament. Japanese media said he chaired the 2008 G8 summit at Toyako, Hokkaido, and worked on a consumer affairs agency and climate measures.

Mark on China-Japan relations

Bernama reported that he visited China three months after taking office in September 2007 and invited then-President Hu Jintao to Japan in May 2008, the first visit by a Chinese head of state in a decade. He is credited with continuing the improvement started under Shinzo Abe after strains during the Koizumi era over Yasukuni visits. Jiji’s headline says he kept urging stronger Japan-China ties after retirement.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on October 26 that Fukuda made positive contributions to improving China-Japan relations. He cited Fukuda’s view that the four political documents set the principles for ties and that there must be no turning back. Guo also said Japan’s leaders should reflect deeply; Tokyo’s reaction was not confirmed.

Fact-check note

This paper could not directly verify Huanqiu’s ‘Jieju’ commentary and does not quote it. The account here rests on Jiji, Bernama and The Paper’s report of the Chinese ministry’s remarks. The cause of death comes from unnamed sources and has no official confirmation reported.

Many in Japan see Fukuda as a symbol of moderate diplomacy, though parties differ on what choices Japan should make toward China. This paper will follow further official remarks and the memorial schedule.