TOKYO (Reuters) - Former Japanese prime minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, a World War Two naval officer and one of Japan’s longest-serving premiers, marked his 100th birthday on Sunday with a call to revise the nation’s post-war, pacifist constitution.

FILE PHOTO: Former Japan Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone attends an interview with Reuters reporters in Tokyo January 25, 2010. REUTERS/Michael Caronna

Nakasone, who trod the world stage with Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher during his 1982-1987 tenure, has long advocated amending the U.S.-drafted charter to clarify the ambiguous status of the military - a goal shared by incumbent premier Shinzo Abe.

He urged politicians to seriously tackle the matter, which remains a contentious topic among the Japanese public.

“To resolutely open the path to the nation’s future ... is the essence of politics,” Nakasone said in a statement issued to mark his birthday that was carried by Japanese media.

Known for his “Ron and Yasu” friendship with Reagan, Nakasone made headlines after taking office when he said that, in the event of a war, he would make Japan an unsinkable “aircraft carrier” for U.S. forces and bottle up the Soviet navy.

Nakasone also broke an unwritten rule on limiting the annual defense budget to 1 percent of gross national product.

A former lieutenant in the Imperial Navy who lost his younger brother in World War Two, Nakasone outraged Asian countries when he made an official visit to Tokyo’s Yasukuni shrine, where convicted war criminals are honored along with Japan’s war dead, on the 40th anniversary of Japan’s surrender.

He decided not to repeat the pilgrimage after it sparked riots in China.

Nakasone was forced to retire in 2003 when he was 85, along with other elder statesmen, by then-premier Junichiro Koizumi, who was keen to rejuvenate the Liberal Democratic Party’s image as a party of staid, elderly politicians.

Commenting on the reasons for his longevity, Nakasone cited a disciplined life, interest in nature - and an insatiably inquiring mind. </s> TOKYO: Former Japanese prime minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, a World War Two naval officer and one of Japan´s longest-serving premiers, marked his 100th birthday on Sunday with a call to revise the nation´s post-war, pacifist constitution. Nakasone, who trod the world stage with Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher during his 1982-1987 tenure, has long advocated amending the US -drafted charter to clarify the ambiguous status of the military - a goal shared by incumbent premier Shinzo Abe. He urged politicians to seriously tackle the matter, which remains a contentious topic among the Japanese public. “To resolutely open the path to the nation´s future . . . is the essence of politics,” Nakasone said in a statement issued to mark his birthday that was carried by Japanese media. Known for his “Ron and Yasu” friendship with Reagan, Nakasone made headlines after taking office when he said that, in the event of a war, he would make Japan an unsinkable “aircraft carrier” for US forces and bottle up the Soviet navy. Nakasone also broke an unwritten rule on limiting the annual defence budget to 1 percent of gross national product. A former lieutenant in the Imperial Navy who lost his younger brother in World War Two, Nakasone outraged Asian countries when he made an official visit to Tokyo´s Yasukuni shrine, where convicted war criminals are honoured along with Japan´s war dead, on the 40th anniversary of Japan´s surrender. </s> It is somehow fitting in a country known for longevity that one of Japan’s most prominent former leaders has reached 100 years of age.

As a second world war naval officer, Yasuhiro Nakasone witnessed the depths of his country’s utter defeat and devastation.

Four decades later he presided over Japan in the 1980s at the pinnacle of its economic success. In recent years, he has lobbied for revision of the war-renouncing, US-drafted constitution, a long-time cause that neither he nor any successor has achieved to date.

He urged politicians to seriously tackle the matter, which remains a contentious topic among the Japanese public.

“To resolutely open the path to the nation’s future … is the essence of politics,” Nakasone said in a statement issued to mark his birthday that was carried by Japanese media.

Nakasone, who is cared for by his 71-year-old daughter at their Tokyo home, is slowing down but in fine health, his aide Masaki Donji said.

He skipped his annual speech at a May rally in support of constitutional revision, because he had broken his right hand and couldn’t use his cane to get up from his wheelchair.

Still, he checks newspapers every morning and reads books, and sometimes drops by his office, escorted by his family.

“Endless hunger for exploration and intellectual curiosity is crucial,” Nakasone said

The son of a timber merchant, Nakasone was born May 27, 1918, the last year of the first world war. He went to Tokyo Imperial University before entering the navy, where he rose to lieutenant commander during the second world war.

He began his political career as a fiery nationalist denouncing the US occupation, which lasted from 1945 to 1952.

He was a driving force in the 1950s behind building nuclear reactors in resource-poor Japan, a move that helped propel the nation’s post-war economic growth and recovery.

During more than a half-century in parliament, he served as defence chief and head of the powerful Ministry of International Trade and Industry.

As prime minister from 1982 to 1987, he strengthened Japan’s defence and alliance with the US while tackling vested interests to launch the privatisation of the state telephone, tobacco and railway companies.

Known for his “Ron and Yasu” friendship with ormer US president Ronald Reagan, Nakasone made headlines after taking office when he said that, in the event of a war, he would make Japan an unsinkable “aircraft carrier” for US forces and bottle up the Soviet navy.

His nationalist legacy includes the first official visit by a post-war prime minister to Yasukuni Shrine, which honours Japan’s war dead, among them convicted war criminals.

His visit fuelled disputes with China and South Korea over second war history that persist to this day.

Both nationalist and wrestling with the same issues – stronger military, constitutional revision and even trade friction with the US – Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been compared to Nakasone by some Japanese media and analysts.

But Japan that Abe leads today is no longer at its peak and China is now a rival to the US, prompting Abe to be more hawkish toward Beijing’s aspirations.

“The important difference between these two leaders is that Nakasone experienced the war, the real battlegrounds and saw his buddies killed. This brought some intrinsic humbleness to Nakasone, though he often looks haughty,” said Hiro Aida, an international politics professor at Aoyama Gakuin University in Tokyo.

Nakasone is not the first ex-Japanese leader to reach 100; Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni, the prime minister for 54 days immediately after the second world war, lived to be 102.

Japan is home to more than 67,000 centenarians, including the world’s oldest person, a 117-year-old woman.

Nakasone says he is not done yet.

“I am determined to devote myself to my last service for the country, for the people and for my hometown,” he said.

Nakasone was forced to retire in 2003 when he was 85, along with other elder statesmen, by then-premier Junichiro Koizumi, who was keen to rejuvenate the Liberal Democratic Party’s image as a party of staid, elderly politicians. </s> Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been re-elected as head of his ruling Liberal Democratic Party in a landslide, paving the way for up to three more years as the nation’s leader.

Thursday’s decisive victory may embolden him to pursue his long-sought revision to Japan’s U.S.-drafted pacifist constitution, although the hurdles remain high and doing so would carry political risks.

The 63-year-old Abe has been prime minister since December 2012. He has cemented control of his party and received support from conservatives for bringing stability and continuity to economic and diplomatic policies. With a third term as party leader, Abe is poised to become Japan’s longest-serving leader in August 2021. </s> Naruhito has officially been named the new emperor of Japan, commencing a new era in the country's history, named "Reiwa", which can be translated as "beautiful harmony". The ceremony for passing the imperial regalia on to the new 59-year-old monarch will take place on 1 May.

85-year-old Akihito delivered his final speech as emperor on 30 April, expressing his "heartfelt gratitude to the people of Japan" before abdicating after a 30-year reign. With his voluntary move to step down, unique in the past 200 years, Akihito ended the country's previous historical era, which was named "Heisei", roughly interpreted as "peace everywhere".

With the adoption of the post-war constitution in 1946, the emperor began to play a more symbolic rather than political role in Japan. The imperial succession and the change of era are now purely symbolic in the country.

READ MORE: As Japanese Emperor Prepares Handover, What's Next for the 'Lost Generation'?

The last time that a Japanese emperor willingly vacated the Chrysanthemum Throne was in 1817, when Emperor Kokaku abdicated in favour of his son, Nink, after 37 years of reign. </s> Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe has been re-elected as head of his ruling Liberal Democratic Party in a landslide, paving the way for up to three more years as the nation’s leader.

Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe has been re-elected as head of his ruling Liberal Democratic Party in a landslide, paving the way for up to three more years as the nation’s leader.

Thursday’s decisive victory may embolden him to pursue his long-sought revision to Japan’s US-drafted pacifist constitution, although the hurdles remain high and doing so would carry political risks.

The 63-year-old has been prime minister since December 2012.

He has cemented control of his party and received support from conservatives for bringing stability and continuity to economic and diplomatic policies.

With a third term as party leader, Mr Abe is poised to become Japan’s longest-serving leader in August 2021. </s> Japan’s parliament on Friday passed a Bill to allow Emperor Akihito to abdicate and handover the royal duties to his son Crown Prince Naruhito, reported Reuters. The 83-year-old emperor, who has undergone a heart surgery and treatment for prostate cancer in the past, had said last year that his age and ill-health were making it difficult for him to carry out his official duties.

The government will start the process of abdication soon and the handover is expected take place in December, 2018, BBC reported. However, neither Akihito’s son Naruhito nor his successors will be allowed to abdicate under the law.

“Abdication will take place for the first time in 200 years, reminding me once again of how important an issue this is for the foundation of our nation, its long history and its future,” Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said, according to Reuters.

Akihito was born in 1933 when Japan was involved in World War II which had ended in its defeat. Hirohito was allowed to remain on the throne, however, he was stripped off his political powers. Akihito took over the throne after his father’s death in 1989.

Japan does not have any more eligible male heirs to the throne after Crown Prince Naruhito’s brother’s 10-year-old son, reported AP. Japan’s Parliament has been debating giving women a bigger role in the male-dominated monarchy. However, the idea is opposed by traditionalists, including Abe, the report said. </s> The prime minister of Japan is to travel to the United States on Tuesday to meet with its president in a summit focusing on talks with North Korea, and on protectionist measures announced by the White House.

Shinzo Abe and Donald Trump are scheduled to take part in a two-day summit in Mar-a-Lago (Florida) until Wednesday. </s> The prime minister of Japan on Tuesday left for the United States to meet with the US president in a summit focusing on talks with North Korea and protectionist measures announced by Washington.

Shinzo Abe will attend a two-day summit with Donald Trump in Mar-a-Lago in Florida until Wednesday, his second visit to Trump's private house since the latter became president in January 2017.
Former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone celebrates his 100th birthday.