Third in a series of six
Some say that luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. If that is the case, then Minister for Coronavirus Vaccinations Taro Kono is a very lucky politician.
Kono is an anomaly inside the Liberal Democratic Party. Like other LDP elites, he comes from a political dynasty as the son of former chief Cabinet secretary Yohei Kono and grandson of former Deputy Prime Minister Ichiro Kono—a pedigree that gives him credibility and job security. Unlike his peers, Kono spent many years abroad, including earning his bachelor’s degree from Georgetown. He is fluent in English and has a wide network of connections across the globe.