Sayaka Nakayama (中山 さやか, Nakayama Sayaka; born 5 September 1983), better known as Sayaka Kobayashi (小林さやか, Kobayashi…Sayaka Nakayama (中山 さやか, Nakayama Sayaka; born 5 September 1983), better known as Sayaka Kobayashi (小林さやか, Kobayashi Sayaka), is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the House of Councillors since 2025. From 2007 to 2025, she was a reporter for the NHK.
Mayuko Toyota (豊田 真由子) (born 10 October 1974) is a Japanese politician and former bureaucrat at the Ministry of Health…Mayuko Toyota (豊田 真由子) (born 10 October 1974) is a Japanese politician and former bureaucrat at the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. From 2012 to 2017, she served two terms in the House of Representatives as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. In August 2017, she left the LDP after being accused of assault by her secretary. In 2026, she gained a seat again in the House of Representatives as a member of Sanseitō.
Yuko Fujigaki (Japanese: 藤垣 裕子; born 1962) is a Japanese academic and researcher specializing in science and technology…Yuko Fujigaki (Japanese: 藤垣 裕子; born 1962) is a Japanese academic and researcher specializing in science and technology studies (STS) and scientometrics. She is a professor at the University of Tokyo's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and has held several senior academic leadership positions at the university. In September 2026, she was selected as the university's 32nd president, becoming the first woman chosen to lead the institution since its establishment in 1877. She is scheduled to assume office on April 1, 2027, succeeding Teruo Fujii. Fujigaki's research examines relationships between scientific knowledge, public policy, and society, with particular emphasis on the social responsibility of scientists, scientific expertise, research evaluation, and public engagement in science and technology. She has contributed to the development of science and technology studies in Japan through academic publications, professional society leadership, and international scholarly collaboration.
Kuniko Inoguchi (猪口 邦子, Inoguchi Kuniko; born 3 May 1952) is a Japanese political scientist and politician. She served…Kuniko Inoguchi (猪口 邦子, Inoguchi Kuniko; born 3 May 1952) is a Japanese political scientist and politician. She served as Minister of State for Gender Equality and Social Affairs from 2005 to 2006, and is currently a member of the House of Councillors representing Chiba Prefecture for the Liberal Democratic Party.
Chimako Tada (多田智満子, Tada Chimako; April 1, 1930 – January 23, 2003) was a Japanese poet renowned for her surreal style…Chimako Tada (多田智満子, Tada Chimako; April 1, 1930 – January 23, 2003) was a Japanese poet renowned for her surreal style and evocation of women's experience in post-war Japan. She authored more than 15 books of Japanese poetry, and also translated prose and poetry from French. Tada wrote in traditional styles, such as tanka and haiku, as well as contemporary prose poetry.
Satoko Kitahara (北原 怜子, Kitahara Satoko; 22 August 1929 – 23 January 1958) – later known as Elisabeth Maria Kitahara –…Satoko Kitahara (北原 怜子, Kitahara Satoko; 22 August 1929 – 23 January 1958) – later known as Elisabeth Maria Kitahara – was a Japanese Roman Catholic. Kitahara was descended from aristocrats and samurai warriors; she worked in an airplane warehouse during World War II and became disillusioned after she and others learnt of Japanese atrocities during the conflict. She discovered Roman Catholicism and after a period of being exposed to churches decided to learn catechism so she could be baptized. Upon her baptism she selected the name Elisabeth and upon her Confirmation added the name "Maria". Kitahara made it her goal to tend to the impoverished and orphaned as well as the sick and poor who were suffering as a result of the damage inflicted during the war. In 1950 she first met the Conventual Franciscan friar Zenon Żebrowski and the two worked together to care for destitute people and children in the riverside Ants Village. This work became the focus for Kitahara's life until she died from tuberculosis in 1958. The beatification process had been proposed since the 1970s and had opened in 1981 which made Kitahara known as a Servant of God. In 2015 she was named as venerable after Pope Francis confirmed her life of heroic virtue.
Miki Yamada (山田美樹, Yamada Miki; born 15 March 1974) is a Japanese politician and member of the House of…Miki Yamada (山田美樹, Yamada Miki; born 15 March 1974) is a Japanese politician and member of the House of Representatives. She is a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. She was born in Shinagawa, Tokyo and received an LLB from the University of Tokyo, following which she joined the Ministry of International Trade and Industry. She attended business school at Columbia University and subsequently worked in the Cabinet Secretariat under Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, as a management consultant with Boston Consulting Group, and as a marketing executive for Hermès Japan. She was first elected to the Diet in the 2012 general election, in which she defeated former Economy Minister (and subsequent Democratic Party of Japan president) Banri Kaieda in the Tokyo 1st district. Her campaign was supported by Kaoru Yosano. Miki was re-elected to serve a further term in parliament in the 2014 general election. She was appointed (and remains) Vice-minister for foreign affairs in the 3rd cabinet re-shuffle of the Abe administration. In the 2017 general election, Kaieda defeated Yamada by a small margin in the Tokyo 1st district, but Yamada retained a seat in the Diet through the LDP proportional representation list.
