Life begins at 70 for Fukuda.

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun/Daily Yomiuri)

Life begins at 70 for Fukuda

Yomiuri

Former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda celebrates his 70th birthday today. He still walks briskly and does not look his age. His late father, Takeo Fukuda, was 71 years old when he became prime minister.

With less than two months left before Sept. 8, when the Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election will be officially announced, expectations of Fukuda running in September's race have been mounting among his supporters.

His office in Tokyo has received phone calls from supporters who have apparently run out of patience, asking, "When will Mr. Fukuda make clear his intention to run in the race?"

On July 1, back on home ground in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, a party was held for Fukuda, who became chairman of the Japan Canoe Federation in June last year. As he was greeting partygoers, Taizo Kaneko, 62, a Gunma Prefectural Assembly …