Former Prime Minister Zenko Suzuki died at a Tokyo hospital Monday, his family said. He was 93.
Suzuki was hastily appointed prime minister in July 1980, following the sudden death of his predecessor, Masayoshi Ohira. He served in this capacity until November 1982, when he was succeeded by Yasuhiro Nakasone.
He was known for his efforts to smooth out differences within the fractious Liberal Democratic Party he inherited, with his methods described as "the politics of harmony."