JAPAN: The Fall

"Even monkeys fall from trees," runs an old Japanese proverb. Last week the wiliest arborealist in the Japanese political jungle crashed ingloriously to earth. He was Liberal-Democrat Party Board Chairman Ichiro Kono, the beady-eyed, roly-poly little man who for a decade has personified in his countrymen's minds the guile of political party intrigue.

In a way, Kono's fall was assured by the way he helped put Nobusuke Kishi in as Premier in 1957. "I arranged that Kishi should be Premier," boasted Kono. who previously had more or less managed the government of doddering old Premier Ichiro Hatoyama. "I intend for...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!