Member of Parliament
First Elected to the Japanese Parliament
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Kakuei Tanaka Biography and Timeline
Follow Kakuei Tanaka through 20 dated historical records for Japan.
Kakuei Tanaka, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
20Distinct records
1 of 1Page
1947–1983Years on this page
1947
1957
Minister of Postal Services
Appointed Minister of Postal Services & Communications
Role range: 1957-1958
1962
Minister of Finance
Appointed Finance Minister
Role range: 1962-1964
1964
Minister of International Trade & Industry
Appointed Minister of International Trade & Industry
Role range: 1964-1972 – 1964-1972
1972
Prime Minister of Japan
Appointed Prime Minister of Japan, 1st term
Role range: 1972-1974 – 1972-1974
Prime Minister of Japan
Appointed Prime Minister of Japan, 2nd term
Role range: 1972-1974 – 1972-1974
Break in Diplomatic Relations with Japan
Taiwan severs diplomatic relations with Japan
Role range: 1972-1974 – 1972-1974
Diplomatic Meeting at Hawaii
Prime Minister Tanaka & President Nixon meet before Tanaka visits China
Role range: 1972-1974 – 1972-1974
Prime Minister of Japan
Appointed Prime Minister of Japan
Role range: 1972-1974
Recognition of Beijing as the only legal Government in
Prime Minister Tanaka & Zhou Enlai meet in China. Apologizes for war crimes & recognizes Beijing as the only legal Government in China
Role range: 1972-1974 – 1972-1974
1974
Economy of Japan
Japan suffers its 1st "oil shock" as prices increase 4 fold over 4 months
Role range: 1972-1974 – 1972-1974
Resignation of Kakuei Tanaka
Resigns over the Lockheed scandal. Resigns as Prime Minister & Leader of the LDP but keeps his seat in the Diet
Role range: 1972-1974 – 1972-1974
Crisis
Resigns over the Lockheed scandal
Role range: 1972-1974 – 1972-1974
1976
Arrest of Kakuei Tanaka
Kept in the Tokyo Detention House & then released on bail. Accepted bribes from Lockheed to persuade Nipon Airways to buy their airliners
Scandal
Accepted bribes from Lockheed to persuade Nipon Airways to buy their airliners
1977
Trial
The Tanaka trial opens
1983
Trial
Sentenced to 4 yrs in prison & a 500 million Yen fine. Convicted of accepting bribes from Lockheed while Prime Minister
Trial
Appeals & s released on bail, refuses to give up seat in Diet
Election
Wins a record landslide vote in the Niigata Prefecture
Health of Kakuei Tanaka
Suffers a stroke & loses power to the Takeshita, Kanemaru & Ozawa faction
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.