The death was announced Wednesday of veteran lawmaker and former internal affairs minister Kunio Hatoyama. He was 67.
The younger brother of former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama hailed from a family studded with politicians.
Hatoyama died of duodenal ulceration, according to media reports. In the last photo posted on Hatoyama's Facebook page, dated May 17, he appeared to have lost a considerable amount of weight. His death was announced by his office in Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture.