Satō, Eisaku (1901–1975)

Japanese conservative politician, prime minister 1964–72. He ran against Hayato Ikeda (1899–1965) for the Liberal Democratic Party leadership and succeeded him as prime minister, pledged to a more independent foreign policy. He shared the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1974 (with Seán MacBride) for his rejection of nuclear weapons. His brother Nobusuke Kishi (1896–1987) was prime minister of Japan 1957–60.