Ishibashi, Tanzan

Ishibashi, Tanzan, 1884–1973, Japanese politician, b. Tokyo. The son of a Buddhist priest, he studied philosophy at Waseda Univ. (grad. 1907) and became a journalist. He was appointed (1946) minister of finance under Shigeru Yoshida, but was forced to resign (1947) because of his liberal political views. Allowed to return to politics in 1951, Ishibashi became minister of trade and industry (1954) under Ichiro Hatoyama and joined the Liberal Democratic party at its founding in 1955. Prime minister for only two months (Dec. 1956–Jan. 1957), he resigned because of ill health. Ishibashi also was president of Rissho Univ. from 1952 to 1968.

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