1918- . Japanese right-wing politician,
leader of the dominant Liberal Democratic
Party (LDP) and prime minister 1972-74. In
1976 he was charged with corruption and
resigned from the LDP but remained a powerful
faction leader. In the Diet from 1947, Tanaka
was minister of finance 1962-65 and of
international trade and industry 1971-72,
before becoming LDP leader. In 1974 he had to
resign the premiership because of allegations
of corruption and 1976 he was arrested for
accepting bribes from the Lockheed
Corporation while premier. He was found
guilty in 1983, but remained in the Diet as
an independent deputy pending appeal. He was
also implicated in the 1988-89 Recruit
scandal of insider trading.