Ex-Tokyo governor Ishihara Shintaro dies at 89

On February 1, former Tokyo Governor Ishihara Shintaro died, who gained notoriety for his willingness to defend his tough stance. Ishihara was 89 years old.

Ishihara arguably gained the most notoriety in the world after announcing Tokyo’s intention to buy the Senkaku Islands in 2012. At the time, he stated that by purchasing the islands from a private Japanese owner, Tokyo would protect them from China.

Ultimately, the Japanese government bought these islands on behalf of the Tokyo authorities.

The move drew backlash from China, which has become more aggressive in pushing its demands.

The Japanese government maintains that the islands are an integral part of Japanese territory. China and Taiwan claim their rights to them.

Early in his career, Ishihara gained fame as a writer. In 1968, he was elected to parliament and served as a deputy for more than 20 years, after which he became the governor of Tokyo.