Former Japanese Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa, who led the country from 1991 to 1993, has died at the age of 87.
Mr. Miyazawa died Thursday at his home in Tokyo from natural causes. The former leader was a veteran member of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
Mr. Miyazawa became well-known in the United States in 1992 when then-President George H.W. Bush fell ill during a state dinner in Tokyo and vomited on him. Video showed Mr. Miyazawa holding the president's head as first lady Barbara Bush wiped her husband's face.
Mr. Miyazawa's tenure as prime minister was cut short when he lost a vote of confidence in 1993. His party then fared badly in snap elections.
Five years later, he returned to political life when then-Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi named him finance minister. He retired in 2003.
During an earlier stint as finance minister in the late 1980s, Mr. Miyazawa was forced to resign in connection with an influence-buying scandal.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.