Ex-Foreign Minister Of Japan Dies At 72

Former Foreign Minister Michio Watanabe, one of Japan’s best-known politicians both at home and abroad, died early Friday of heart failure at a Tokyo hospital. He was 72.

Known for a wry sense of humor and blunt style of speaking, Watanabe also caused storms of protest overseas for comments which insulted American blacks and others which brought demonstrations in South Korean streets.

But Watanabe also had international achievements, his most recent as leader of Japanese delegations in talks with North Korea leading to a promise of 300,000 tons of rice aid to the North, half of it free of charge.