Getty Images 1 week ago

TOKYO - NOVEMBER 30: Japanese comedy group The Newspaper pose, as they mimic former Japanese Prime Ministers Junichiro Koizumi (L) and Taro Aso, for a stage greeting before the Japan Premiere of 'Capitalism: A Love Story' at Toho Cinemas Roppongi Hills on November 30, 2009 in Tokyo, Ja...

Getty Images 2 months ago

Former Japanese finance minister Sadakazu Tanigaki (R) shakes hands with former prime minister and Japan's main opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) ex-leader Taro Aso (L) after Tanigaki was elected as the new LDP party leader in Tokyo on September 28, 2009.

Getty Images 2 months ago

Former Japanese finance minister Sadakazu Tanigaki (R) shakes hands with former prime minister and Japan's main opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) ex-leader Taro Aso (L) after Tanigaki was elected as the new LDP party leader in Tokyo on September 28, 2009.

AP Photo 3 months ago

Prime Minister Taro Aso, center, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, accompanied by senior party leaders, Takashi Sasakawa, left, and Hiroyuki Hosoda, bows as he arrives to speak to the media while observing the result of the parliamentary elections ballot counting at the party head...

AP Photo 3 months ago

Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, right, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, speaks during a TV interview while observing the result of parliamentary elections ballot counting at the party headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, Sunday, Aug. 30, 209.

AP Photo 3 months ago

Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, left, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, chats with the party's Secretary-General Hiroyuki Hosoda during a TV interview on the ballot counting result for the parliamentary elections at the party headquarters in Tokyo Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009.

AP Photo 3 months ago

Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, right, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, listens to a TV interview while observing the result of parliamentary elections ballot counting at the party headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, Sunday, Aug. 30, 209.

AP Photo 3 months ago

Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, right, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, leaves after speaking to the media while observing the result of parliamentary elections ballot counting at the party headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, Sunday, Aug. 30, 209.

AP Photo 3 months ago

Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, center, leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, readies to take a seat for a nationwide TV press conference at the party headquarters in Tokyo Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009.

AP Photo 3 months ago

Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, right, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, faces a TV interview in front of photographers while observing the result of parliamentary elections ballot counting at the party headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009.

AP Photo 3 months ago

Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, center, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, accompanied by the party's Secretary-General Hiroyuki Hosoda, right, observes the result of parliamentary elections ballot counting at the party headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009.

Japan's Prime Minister Taro Aso (C) attends a Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) lawmakers' meeting at the LDP headquarters in Tokyo July 21, 2009.

Japan's Prime Minister Taro Aso arrives at a meeting of his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) after the dissolution of lower house was announced at the LDP headquarters in Tokyo July 21, 2009.

Japan's Prime Minister Taro Aso arrives at a meeting of his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) after the dissolution of lower house was announced at the LDP headquarters in Tokyo July 21, 2009.

AP Photo 4 months ago

Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, right, claps with Agriculture Minister Shigeru Ishiba, left, and Reform Minister Akira Amari, second left, following a call for dissolving the lower house of parliament in Tokyo Tuesday, July 21, 2009.

AP Photo 4 months ago

Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, right, reacts as he chats with other parliament members before dissolving the lower house of parliament in Tokyo Tuesday, July 21, 2009.

Japan's Prime Minister Taro Aso (C) attends a Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) lawmakers' meeting at the LDP headquarters in Tokyo July 21, 2009.

AP Photo 4 months ago

Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, right, chats with his cabinet members after dissolving the lower house of parliament in Tokyo Tuesday, July 21, 2009.

Japan's Prime Minister Taro Aso (C) attends a session to announce the dissolution of lower house at the Parliament in Tokyo July 21, 2009.

Japan's Prime Minister Taro Aso (C) raises his hands after the dissolution of lower house was announced at the Parliament in Tokyo July 21, 2009.

AP Photo 4 months ago

Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, center, leaves after a press briefing at his official residence in Tokyo Wednesday, July 15, 2009.

Getty Images 4 months ago

Japan's Prime Minister Taro Aso (R), Finance Minister Kaoru Yosano (C) and Chief Cabinet Secreatry Takeo Kawamura (L) bow after voting during a plenary session of the lower house at the parliament in Tokyo on July 14, 2009.

Getty Images 5 months ago

Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso (C) and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (down) speak during the Group of Eight (G8) summit in L'Aquila, central Italy, on July 9, 2009.

Getty Images 5 months ago

Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso (C), Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (R) and French President Nicolas Sarkozy speak during the Group of Eight (G8) summit in L'Aquila, central Italy, on July 9, 2009.

Getty Images 5 months ago

Visiting South Korean President Lee Myung-bak (L) and Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso (R) bow to each other as they meet in Tokyo on June 28, 2009. Lee and Aso held talks, with simmering tensions over North Korea's nuclear programmes topping the agenda.