TOKYO, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Former Toyko Gov. Yucko Aoshima died of a blood disorder at a Tokyo hospital Wednesday, his family said. He was 74.
Born in Tokyo in 1932, he became a TV scriptwriter after graduating from Waseda University and later produced the popular Japanese "Variety Show: Shabondama Holiday," The Mainichi Shimbun reported.
A songwriter, actor and novelist, he wrote the popular "Sudara Bushi" song for Japanese comedian and singer Hitoshi Ueki and in 1967 acted in the Japanese TV drama "Ijiwaru Basan."
In 1981, Aoshima won the Naoki literary award for his novel, "Ningen Banji Saioga Hinoeuma."
His political career began in 1968, when Aoshima was elected to the upper house of the Japanese legislature. He was re-elected five times.
He stunned Liberal Democrats when he won the Tokyo gubernatorial election in 1995, beating former Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobuo Ishihara, who had widespread political endorsements.
After serving a four-year term as governor, he resumed activities as an entertainer. He also unsuccessfully ran for the upper house again in 2004.
