Obituary: Kinkazu Saionji

Kinkazu Saionji, politician, died Tokyo, aged 86. Served as an adviser to the late Japanese Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoe from 1937 to 1941. Became known in diplomatic circles as a 'private ambassador' following his move in the late Fifties to China, where he was active in promoting good relations between the two countries. Joined the Japan Communist Party in 1958 but was later ousted over ideological disputes between the Japanese and Chinese Communist parties. Executive director of the Japan-China Cultural Exchange Association from its inception in 1956.