As a World War II naval officer, Yasuhiro Nakasone witnessed the depths of his country's utter defeat and devastation. The son of a lumber merchant, Nakasone was born May 27, 1918, the last year of World War I. He went to Tokyo Imperial University before entering the navy, where he rose to lieutenant commander during World War II. Nakasone's nationalist legacy includes the first official visit by a postwar prime minister to Yasukuni shrine, which honors Japan's war dead, including convicted war criminals. His visit fueled disputes with China and South Korea over World War II history that persist to this day.

Source: ABC News May 27, 2018 02:41 UTC