Fire destroys ancient home of Aso's grandfather

A fire destroyed the picturesque home of a former Japanese prime minister yesterday, and police said they were investigating whether arson or other foul play may be involved. No one was injured.

The two-story wooden home of Shigeru Yoshida, which had been opened occasionally for sightseeing tours as a historical landmark, was gutted early yesterday in the seaside city of Oiso, in Kanagawa prefecture southwest of Tokyo, police said.

Yoshida is the grandfather of Prime Minister Taro Aso, who has seen his popularity plummet as a global recession batters the economy, fueling discontent among voters.