Toshio Kimura

was a Japanese politician who served as foreign minister for six months in 1974.

Early life Kimura was born into a politically active family on 15 January 1909. His father and grandfather were both lawmakers. He was also chairman of the Parliamentarians' League for Japan-Palestine Friendship.

His other posts include director-general of the economic planning agency and deputy chief cabinet secretary. In 1971, Kimura served as acting foreign minister. He was appointed foreign minister by Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka in mid-July 1974, replacing Masayoshi Ohira in the post. Kimura was in office for six months in 1974. He was the first senior Japanese government official to visit African countries. His Africa visit included Ghana, Nigeria, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo), Tanzania, and Egypt. Then Kimura became head of the LDP's Asian-African Studies Group in 1977.

Personal life and death Kimura was married and had a daughter. He died of a heart attack at a hospital in Tokyo on 1 December 1983 at age 74.

Honours Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun (3 November 1983)