Takeshi Shina (階 猛, Shina Takeshi; born 7 October 1966) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the…
Takeshi Shina (階 猛, Shina Takeshi; born 7 October 1966) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the House of Representatives since 2007. A 1991 graduate of the University of Tokyo, he was elected for the first time in 2007. Shina was born and grew up in Morioka, Iwate before attending the University of Tokyo. After he graduated, he became a banker at both the Long-Term Credit Bank of Japan and the SBI Shinsei Bank. Shina first ran for office in a 2007 by-election following the resignation of his High School and University senior, Takuya Tasso, in Iwate's 1st district. He won in 2009 and was tapped to become a Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications, and served through the Kan Cabinet. Following his vote against the consumption tax raise launched by the Noda Cabinet, he was suspended by the DPJ for two months but declined to leave the party, and won in 2012 despite facing a candidate handpicked by Ichiro Ozawa to defeat him, and the strong national headwinds in favor of the LDP. Following the defeat, Shina was shuffled throughout various DPJ party positions, serving as a shadow minister in the NEXT Cabinets of varying leaders. He won in 2014 again and merged with the DP in merging with Kibō no Tō, holding onto his district in 2017. He joined the DPP before leaving the party following the Iwate's branch decision to endorse a candidate from Ichiro Ozawa's Liberal Party. He joined the CDP shortly thereafter and fought attempts by the Prefectural Branch controlled by Ozawa to replace him as the candidate in Iwate's 1st, winning in 2021. He was appointed the Shadow Minister of Finance in the Next Cabinet's of Kenta Izumi and Yoshihiko Noda until September 2025. He won his district in 2026 after joining the CRA, becoming one of the "seven samurai" to do so. He ran for party president in the 2026 CRA election, losing to Junya Ogawa by five votes. He was then appointed secretary-general of the CRA.
Famous Alumni of Morioka First High School
Morioka First High School: 26 people
Megumi Hirose (広瀬 めぐみ, Hirose Megumi; born June 27, 1966) is a Japanese politician and lawyer who served in the House…
Megumi Hirose (広瀬 めぐみ, Hirose Megumi; born June 27, 1966) is a Japanese politician and lawyer who served in the House of Councillors for Iwate Prefecture from 2022 to 2024. She is a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. She is the first LDP member to represent Iwate as a councilor since Motoo Shiina left the party in 1993.
Keishi Ōtomo (Japanese: 大友啓史, Hepburn: Ōtomo Keishi; born May 6, 1966) is a Japanese film director and screenwriter. He…
Keishi Ōtomo (Japanese: 大友啓史, Hepburn: Ōtomo Keishi; born May 6, 1966) is a Japanese film director and screenwriter. He is known for psychological thrillers and historical dramas, as well as adapting a variety of manga and novels to film, including The Vulture (2009), Ryōmaden (2010), and the Rurouni Kenshin film series. Ōtomo’s awards include the Audience Award at the 18th Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal (2014), the Popularity Award at the 38th Japanese Academy Awards (2014), and Best Director at the 31st Japanese Critics Award (2022).
Takuya Tasso (達増 拓也, Tasso Takuya; born 10 June 1964) is a Japanese politician and the current governor of Iwate…
Takuya Tasso (達増 拓也, Tasso Takuya; born 10 June 1964) is a Japanese politician and the current governor of Iwate Prefecture. He is a native of Morioka and graduate of the University of Tokyo.
Tamaki Saitō (斎藤 環, Saitō Tamaki; born September 24, 1961) is a Japanese psychologist and critic. He specializes in the…
Tamaki Saitō (斎藤 環, Saitō Tamaki; born September 24, 1961) is a Japanese psychologist and critic. He specializes in the psychiatry of puberty and adolescence. Saitō is Director of Medical Service at Sofukai Sasaki Hospital in Funabashi, Chiba. Saitō is notable for his study of hikikomori, a term he coined; he is internationally recognized as Japan's leading hikikomori expert. He is also known for presenting the theory of "multiple orientations" to explain otaku sexuality in Beautiful Fighting Girl. Since the 2010s, he has been involved in introducing Open Dialogue in Japan.
Toru Kikawada (黄川田 徹, Kikawada Tōru; born 14 October 1953) is a former Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of…
Toru Kikawada (黄川田 徹, Kikawada Tōru; born 14 October 1953) is a former Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), who served as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature).
Satoshi Kikuchi (菊池 悟, Kikuchi Satoshi; 27 April 1952 – 10 March 2019) was a Japanese handball player who competed in…
Satoshi Kikuchi (菊池 悟, Kikuchi Satoshi; 27 April 1952 – 10 March 2019) was a Japanese handball player who competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics.
Emiko Okuyama (奥山 恵美子; born 23 June 1951) is a Japanese politician. She served as the mayor of Sendai from 2009 to 2017.
Ryo Shuhama (主浜 了, Shuhama Ryō; born 2 April 1950) is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, a member…
Ryo Shuhama (主浜 了, Shuhama Ryō; born 2 April 1950) is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature).
Keiji Kokuta (穀田 恵二, Kokuta Keiji; born 11 January 1947) is a Japanese politician and a former member of the House of…
Keiji Kokuta (穀田 恵二, Kokuta Keiji; born 11 January 1947) is a Japanese politician and a former member of the House of Representatives for the Japanese Communist Party. He served 10 terms in the Japanese House of Representatives. He has served as a member of various committees, including the Budget Committee, the Committee on Local Administration, the Special Committee on Disaster Prevention, and the Special Committee on Ethical Elections. He is currently the Chairman of the Party's Diet Strategy Committee, Chairman of the Election Strategy Committee, a member of the Permanent Executive Committee, and the head of the Committee for the Promotion of Traditional Crafts.
Masashi Omiya (大宮 政志, Ōmiya Masashi; born 10 March 1938) is a former Japanese cyclist. He competed at the 1960 Summer…
Masashi Omiya (大宮 政志, Ōmiya Masashi; born 10 March 1938) is a former Japanese cyclist. He competed at the 1960 Summer Olympics and the 1964 Summer Olympics.
Tokuichiro Tamazawa (玉沢 徳一郎, Tamazawa Tokuichirō; born 16 December 1937) is a former Japanese politician who served in…
Tokuichiro Tamazawa (玉沢 徳一郎, Tamazawa Tokuichirō; born 16 December 1937) is a former Japanese politician who served in the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature) as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. He is a native of Tarō, Iwate and attended a graduate school at Waseda University. He was elected for the first time in 1976 as an independent after unsuccessful runs in 1969 and 1972. From 1994 to 1995 he was Director General of the Japan Defense Agency. In May 2008 Tamazawa was awarded the Order of Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon from President Chen Shui-bian as recognition for the work he has done to foster relations between Taiwan and Japan.
Shigeo Yaegashi (八重樫 茂生, Yaegashi Shigeo; March 24, 1933 – May 2, 2011) was a Japanese football player and manager. He…
Shigeo Yaegashi (八重樫 茂生, Yaegashi Shigeo; March 24, 1933 – May 2, 2011) was a Japanese football player and manager. He played for Japan national team.
Yasutake Funakoshi (舟越 保武, Funakoshi Yasutake; December 7, 1912 – February 5, 2002) was a Japanese sculptor and painter.
Shunsuke Matsumoto (松本 竣介, Matsumoto Shunsuke; 1912–1948) was a Japanese painter, who primarily painted in the Yōga…
Shunsuke Matsumoto (松本 竣介, Matsumoto Shunsuke; 1912–1948) was a Japanese painter, who primarily painted in the Yōga ("Western painting") style. Matsumoto is known for his urban landscapes. His works can be divided into two series: those depicting anonymous urban landscapes and people in cold blue tones in a montage style, and those depicting Tokyo and Yokohama landscapes in dull brown tones. For a short period between 1947 and 1948, Matsumoto also painted Cubist-style works.
Kōtoku Wamura (Japanese: 和村幸得, Hepburn: Wamura Kōtoku; 21 February 1909 – 18 October 1997) was a Japanese politician…
Kōtoku Wamura (Japanese: 和村幸得, Hepburn: Wamura Kōtoku; 21 February 1909 – 18 October 1997) was a Japanese politician who was the mayor of Fudai in Iwate Prefecture from 1947 to 1987. He was credited with creating the floodgates that saved the village of Fudai, Iwate from the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.
Koichi Kudo (工藤 孝一, Kudo Koichi; February 4, 1909 – September 21, 1971) was a Japanese football player and manager. He…
Koichi Kudo (工藤 孝一, Kudo Koichi; February 4, 1909 – September 21, 1971) was a Japanese football player and manager. He managed Japan national team.
Okuro Oikawa (及川 奥郎, Oikawa Okurō; 1896–1970) was a Japanese astronomer and discoverer of minor planets. He is credited…
Okuro Oikawa (及川 奥郎, Oikawa Okurō; 1896–1970) was a Japanese astronomer and discoverer of minor planets. He is credited by the Minor Planet Center with the discovered 8 asteroids between 1927 and 1929. The outer main-belt asteroid 2667 Oikawa was named in his memory. Naming citation was published on 1 June 1996 (M.P.C. 27329).
General Seishirō Itagaki (板垣 征四郎, Itagaki Seishirō; 21 January 1885 – 23 December 1948) was a Japanese military officer…
General Seishirō Itagaki (板垣 征四郎, Itagaki Seishirō; 21 January 1885 – 23 December 1948) was a Japanese military officer and politician who served as a general in the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II and War Minister from 1938 to 1939. He was a disciple of Kanji Ishiwara and his ideas were strongly influenced by his apocalyptic Buddhist beliefs, being firmly convinced of the idea of a "Final War" in which Japan would unite the entire world into a single nation, resulting in an era of true peace, regeneration and harmony. Itagaki was a main conspirator behind the Mukden Incident and held prestigious chief of staff posts in the Kwantung Army and China Expeditionary Army during the early Second Sino–Japanese War. Itagaki became War Minister but fell from grace after Japanese defeat in the Soviet–Japanese border conflicts. Thereafter, he served as general for several field armies until surrendering Japanese forces in Southeast Asia in 1945. Itagaki was ultimately convicted of war crimes by the International Military Tribunal for the Far East and executed in 1948.
Koshirō Oikawa (及川 古志郎, Oikawa Koshirō; 16 February 1883 – 9 May 1958) was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy and…
Koshirō Oikawa (及川 古志郎, Oikawa Koshirō; 16 February 1883 – 9 May 1958) was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy and Naval Minister during World War II.
Osakazu Nomura (野村 長一, Nomura Osakazu; 15 October 1882 - 14 April 1963), known by his pen name Kodō Nomura (野村 胡堂…
Osakazu Nomura (野村 長一, Nomura Osakazu; 15 October 1882 - 14 April 1963), known by his pen name Kodō Nomura (野村 胡堂, Nomura Kodō), was a Japanese novelist and music critic during the Shōwa era. He also used the pen name Araebisu for his music criticism. He is known for his creation of the fictional detective Zenigata Heiji.
Kyōsuke Kindaichi (金田一 京助, Kindaichi Kyōsuke; May 5, 1882 – November 14, 1971) was a Japanese linguist, chiefly known…
Kyōsuke Kindaichi (金田一 京助, Kindaichi Kyōsuke; May 5, 1882 – November 14, 1971) was a Japanese linguist, chiefly known for his dictations of yukar, or sagas of the Ainu people, as well as his study of the Matagi dialect. He is the author of the dictionary Meikai Kokugo Jiten.
Mitsumasa Yonai (米内 光政, Yonai Mitsumasa; 2 March 1880 – 20 April 1948) was a Japanese navy officer and politician. He…
Mitsumasa Yonai (米内 光政, Yonai Mitsumasa; 2 March 1880 – 20 April 1948) was a Japanese navy officer and politician. He served as admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy, Minister of the Navy, and Prime Minister of Japan in 1940.
Katsuji Debuchi (出淵 勝次; July 25, 1878 – August 19, 1947) was a Japanese diplomat who served as ambassador to the United…
Katsuji Debuchi (出淵 勝次; July 25, 1878 – August 19, 1947) was a Japanese diplomat who served as ambassador to the United States.
Haruka Chisuga (千菅 春香, Chisuga Haruka; born January 23, 1992) is a Japanese voice actress and singer from Morioka…
Haruka Chisuga (千菅 春香, Chisuga Haruka; born January 23, 1992) is a Japanese voice actress and singer from Morioka, Iwate Prefecture affiliated with the agency Fortunerest. As a singer, she is signed to Victor Entertainment under their label Flying Dog.
Kenji Miyazawa (宮沢 賢治, Miyazawa Kenji; Japanese: [mʲi.ja.(d)za.wa keꜜɲ.dʑi]; 27 August 1896 – 21 September 1933) was a…
Kenji Miyazawa (宮沢 賢治, Miyazawa Kenji; Japanese: [mʲi.ja.(d)za.wa keꜜɲ.dʑi]; 27 August 1896 – 21 September 1933) was a Japanese novelist, poet, and children's literature writer from Hanamaki, Iwate, in the late Taishō and early Shōwa periods. He was also known as an agricultural science teacher, vegetarian, cellist, devout Buddhist, and utopian social activist. Some of his major works include Night on the Galactic Railroad, Kaze no Matasaburō, Gauche the Cellist, and The Night of Taneyamagahara. Miyazawa converted to Nichiren Buddhism after reading the Lotus Sutra, and joined the Kokuchūkai, a Nichiren Buddhist organization. His religious and social beliefs created a rift between him and his wealthy family, especially his father, though after his death his family eventually followed him in converting to Nichiren Buddhism. Miyazawa founded the Rasu Farmers Association to improve the lives of peasants in Iwate Prefecture. He was also interested in Esperanto and translated some of his poems into it. He died of pneumonia in 1933. Almost totally unknown as a poet in his lifetime, Miyazawa's work gained its reputation posthumously, and enjoyed a boom by the mid-1990s on his centenary. A museum dedicated to his life and works was opened in 1982 in his hometown. Many of his children's stories have been adapted into anime, most notably Night on the Galactic Railroad. Many of his tanka and free verse poetry, translated into many languages, are still popular today.