Yasuhiro Oe (大江 康弘, Ōe Yasuhiro; born December 4, 1950) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a…Yasuhiro Oe (大江 康弘, Ōe Yasuhiro; born December 4, 1950) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature).
Wakako Sawara (佐原 若子) (born November 22, 1953) is a Japanese politician and dentist. She is a member of the House of…Wakako Sawara (佐原 若子) (born November 22, 1953) is a Japanese politician and dentist. She is a member of the House of Representatives (1 term) and a director of the Aomori Prefectural Medical Association.
Hajime Funada (船田 元, Funada Hajime; born 22 November 1953) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party…Hajime Funada (船田 元, Funada Hajime; born 22 November 1953) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who serve as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature) and a former Minister of Economic Planning. A native of Utsunomiya, Tochigi he attended Keio University both as undergraduate and graduate. He was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 1979.
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).
Shigeyuki Tomita (富田 茂之, Tomita Shigeyuki; born 1 October 1953) is a Japanese politician serving in the House of…Shigeyuki Tomita (富田 茂之, Tomita Shigeyuki; born 1 October 1953) is a Japanese politician serving in the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature) as a member of the New Komeito Party. A native of Choshi, Chiba and graduate of Hitotsubashi University, he was elected for the first time in 1990.
Seiei Kimura (木村 聖裔, Kimura Seiei; born September 4, 1953) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler, best known…Seiei Kimura (木村 聖裔, Kimura Seiei; born September 4, 1953) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler, best known under the ring name Kengo Kimura (木村 健悟, Kimura Kengo) and for his many years working for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) in Japan.
Jiro Ono (小野 次郎, Ono Jirō; born 7 August 1953) is a Japanese politician of Your Party, formerly of the Liberal…Jiro Ono (小野 次郎, Ono Jirō; born 7 August 1953) is a Japanese politician of Your Party, formerly of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Councillors, formerly a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Hokuto, Yamanashi, and graduate of the University of Tokyo, he joined the National Police Agency in 1976, receiving a master's degree in jurisprudence from the University of Angers in France while in the agency. He was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in the 2005 Japanese general election. He ran in House of Councillors election in 2010 as a proportional candidate of Your Party and won.
Jiro Ono (小野 次郎, Ono Jirō; born 7 August 1953) is a Japanese politician of Your Party, formerly of the Liberal…Jiro Ono (小野 次郎, Ono Jirō; born 7 August 1953) is a Japanese politician of Your Party, formerly of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Councillors, formerly a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Hokuto, Yamanashi, and graduate of the University of Tokyo, he joined the National Police Agency in 1976, receiving a master's degree in jurisprudence from the University of Angers in France while in the agency. He was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in the 2005 Japanese general election. He ran in House of Councillors election in 2010 as a proportional candidate of Your Party and won.
Shōichi Nakagawa (中川 昭一, Nakagawa Shōichi; 19 July 1953 – 3 October 2009) was a Japanese conservative politician in the…Shōichi Nakagawa (中川 昭一, Nakagawa Shōichi; 19 July 1953 – 3 October 2009) was a Japanese conservative politician in the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), who served as Minister of Finance from 24 September 2008 to 17 February 2009. He previously held the posts of Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry and Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in the cabinet of Junichiro Koizumi. He was regarded as one of Japan's most attractive public figures. On 4 October 2009, he was found dead in his Tokyo apartment. The cause of his death is yet to be determined; although no suicide note was found, there was also no indication of foul play.
Katsuya Okada (岡田 克也, Okada Katsuya; born 14 July 1953) is a Japanese politician who was Deputy Prime Minister of Japan…Katsuya Okada (岡田 克也, Okada Katsuya; born 14 July 1953) is a Japanese politician who was Deputy Prime Minister of Japan from January to December 2012. A member of the House of Representatives of Japan, he was the president of the Democratic Party, and previously of the Democratic Party of Japan. He also served as Secretary-General of the DPJ three times. During the DPJ's period in government he was Foreign Minister of Japan. In 2016, he remained as leader when the Democratic Party of Japan merged with the Japan Innovation Party to become the Democratic Party.
Takashi Mitsubayashi (三ッ林 隆志, Mitsubayashi Takashi; 5 July 1953 – 2 August 2010) was a Japanese politician of the…Takashi Mitsubayashi (三ッ林 隆志, Mitsubayashi Takashi; 5 July 1953 – 2 August 2010) was a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who served as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Satte, Saitama and graduate of Saitama Medical School, he was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 2000.
Mitsue Kondo (近藤 三津枝, Kondō Mitsue; born 14 June 1953) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a…Mitsue Kondo (近藤 三津枝, Kondō Mitsue; born 14 June 1953) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Hyōgo and graduate of Konan University, she was elected for the first time in 2005.
Masakazu Sekiguchi (関口 昌一, Sekiguchi Masakazu; born June 4, 1953) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic…Masakazu Sekiguchi (関口 昌一, Sekiguchi Masakazu; born June 4, 1953) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party who has served as the President of the Senate since 2024. Born in Saitama Prefecture, Sekiguchi was a dentist and a member of the Saitama Prefectural Assembly before his first election to the Senate in 2003. He served as parliamentary vice minister for Foreign Affairs, senior vice minister for Internal Affairs and Communications and chairman of the LDP caucus in the Senate, before he was elected Senate President in 2024.
Tomikazu Fukuda (福田 富一, Fukuda Tomikazu; born 21 May 1953) is a Japanese politician who serves as governor of Tochigi…Tomikazu Fukuda (福田 富一, Fukuda Tomikazu; born 21 May 1953) is a Japanese politician who serves as governor of Tochigi Prefecture since 2004.
Motoko Hirotsu (広津 素子, Hirotsu Motoko; born 16 May 1953) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a…Motoko Hirotsu (広津 素子, Hirotsu Motoko; born 16 May 1953) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Karatsu, Saga and graduate of the University of Tokyo she was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 2005. She represented the 3rd District of Saga prefecture from 2005 until 2009.
Shintaro Ito (伊藤 信太郎, Itō Shintarō; born 6 May 1953) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member…Shintaro Ito (伊藤 信太郎, Itō Shintarō; born 6 May 1953) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature).
Shun'ichi Suzuki (鈴木 俊一, Suzuki Shun'ichi; born 13 April 1953) is a Japanese politician who has served as…Shun'ichi Suzuki (鈴木 俊一, Suzuki Shun'ichi; born 13 April 1953) is a Japanese politician who has served as Secretary-General of the Liberal Democratic Party since 2025 and previously served as minister of finance from 2021 to October 2024. He sits in the House of Representatives as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party.
Masako Ōkawara (大河原 雅子; born 8 April 1953) is a Japanese politician of the Constitutional Democratic Party and a former…Masako Ōkawara (大河原 雅子; born 8 April 1953) is a Japanese politician of the Constitutional Democratic Party and a former member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Yokohama in Kanagawa Prefecture and 1977 graduate of International Christian University, she had served in the assembly of Tokyo for three terms (ten years) since 1993. She was a member of the House of Councillors between 2007 and 2013.
Seiichirō Dōkyū (Japanese: 道休誠一郎 Dōkyū Seiichirō; 1 April 1953 – 3 February 2026) was a Japanese politician. A member…Seiichirō Dōkyū (Japanese: 道休誠一郎 Dōkyū Seiichirō; 1 April 1953 – 3 February 2026) was a Japanese politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he served in the House of Representatives from 2009 to 2012. Dōkyū died in Miyazaki on 3 February 2026, at the age of 72.
Kenji Kitahashi (北橋 健治, Kitahashi Kenji; born 19 March 1953, in Nishinomiya) is a Japanese politician and a former…Kenji Kitahashi (北橋 健治, Kitahashi Kenji; born 19 March 1953, in Nishinomiya) is a Japanese politician and a former mayor of Kitakyushu, Japan. A graduate of the University of Tokyo, he was elected to the House of Representatives in Diet of Japan (parliament) for the first time in 1986 as a member of Democratic Socialist Party, which later became part of Democratic Party of Japan. After losing his seat in 1990, he was re-elected in 1993. In February 2007 he was elected mayor of Kitakyushu and went on to serve four terms, until 2023.
Kazuyuki Hamada (浜田 和幸, Hamada Kazuyuki; born 17 March 1953) is a Japanese politician. He has served one term in the…Kazuyuki Hamada (浜田 和幸, Hamada Kazuyuki; born 17 March 1953) is a Japanese politician. He has served one term in the House of Councillors for the Tottori At-large district. After being elected in 2010 as a candidate for the Liberal Democratic Party, he changed parties three times before unsuccessfully seeking re-election as an independent candidate in 2016.
Kazuo Kitagawa (北側 一雄, Kitagawa Kazuo; born 2 March 1953) is a retired Japanese politician who served as the Minister…Kazuo Kitagawa (北側 一雄, Kitagawa Kazuo; born 2 March 1953) is a retired Japanese politician who served as the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in the cabinet of Junichiro Koizumi.
Yōko Kamikawa (上川 陽子, Kamikawa Yōko; born 1 March 1953) is a Japanese politician and former think tank researcher who…Yōko Kamikawa (上川 陽子, Kamikawa Yōko; born 1 March 1953) is a Japanese politician and former think tank researcher who served as the Minister for Foreign Affairs between September 2023 and October 2024. She served as the Minister of Justice from September 2020 to October 2021, and also served as Minister of State for Gender Equality and Social Affairs in the cabinets of Shinzō Abe and Yasuo Fukuda. She has been a member of the House of Representatives since December 2012.
Kazumi Matsui (松井 一實, Matsui Kazumi; born January 8, 1953) is a Japanese politician and the current mayor of Hiroshima…Kazumi Matsui (松井 一實, Matsui Kazumi; born January 8, 1953) is a Japanese politician and the current mayor of Hiroshima, the capital city of Hiroshima Prefecture in Japan.
Genichiro Sata (佐田 玄一郎, Sata Gen'ichirō; born 22 December 1952 in Maebashi, Gunma) is a former Japanese politician who…Genichiro Sata (佐田 玄一郎, Sata Gen'ichirō; born 22 December 1952 in Maebashi, Gunma) is a former Japanese politician who served in the House of Representatives as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party.
Mamoru Fukuyama (福山 守, Fukuyama Mamoru; born 19 December 1952) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic…Mamoru Fukuyama (福山 守, Fukuyama Mamoru; born 19 December 1952) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who serves as a member of the Senate.
Keiji Furuya (古屋 圭司, Furuya Keiji; born 1 November 1952) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party…Keiji Furuya (古屋 圭司, Furuya Keiji; born 1 November 1952) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, serving as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet of Japan.
Akira Kasai (笠井 亮, Kasai Akira) is a Japanese politician and a former member of the House of Representatives for the…Akira Kasai (笠井 亮, Kasai Akira) is a Japanese politician and a former member of the House of Representatives for the Japanese Communist Party. Kasai, a former policy chief of the JCP, is critical of the United States' intervention in the Syrian Civil War in absence of resolutions by the UN Security Council, saying that the actions are aggravating the civil war. He is supportive of normalizing Japan's relationship with North Korea, claiming that the issues with North Korea can only be solved by developing a dialogue and trust. He similarly thinks that Japan should push the United States to hold talks with North Korea to avert a war caused by accident or misunderstanding. Kasai is against the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Jun Misawa (Japanese: 三沢 淳 Misawa Jun; 1 October 1952 – 3 March 2022) was a Japanese baseball player and politician. A…Jun Misawa (Japanese: 三沢 淳 Misawa Jun; 1 October 1952 – 3 March 2022) was a Japanese baseball player and politician. A member of the New Frontier Party, the Liberal Party, and the New Conservative Party, he served in the House of Representatives from 1996 to 2000. Misawa died in Nagoya on 3 March 2022, at the age of 69.
Ryuji Koizumi (大塚 拓, Koizumi Ryūji; born 17 September 1952) is a Japanese politician. He has been a member of the House…Ryuji Koizumi (大塚 拓, Koizumi Ryūji; born 17 September 1952) is a Japanese politician. He has been a member of the House of Representatives of Japan from 2000 to 2005 and again from 2009. He served as the Minister of Justice from September 2023 to October 2024.
Michiyo Takagi (高木 美智代, Takagi Michiyo; born 13 September 1952) is a Japanese politician serving in the House of…Michiyo Takagi (高木 美智代, Takagi Michiyo; born 13 September 1952) is a Japanese politician serving in the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature) as a member of the New Komeito Party. A native of Kitakyushu, Fukuoka and graduate of Soka University she was elected for the first time in 2003.
Yuichiro Uozumi (魚住 裕一郎, Uozumi Yūichirō; born 1952) is a Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party, a member of the…Yuichiro Uozumi (魚住 裕一郎, Uozumi Yūichirō; born 1952) is a Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Kaisō District, Wakayama and graduate of the University of Tokyo, he was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 1995 after running unsuccessfully for the House of Representatives in 1993.
Shigeharu Aoyama (青山繁晴; born 25 July 1952) is a Japanese politician serving in the House of Representatives. Between…Shigeharu Aoyama (青山繁晴; born 25 July 1952) is a Japanese politician serving in the House of Representatives. Between 2016 and 2026, he was in the House of Councillors of Japan. He represented the National proportional representation block. He has served on the Committee on Economy and Industry (as Director); Committee on Budget; and on the Special Committee on Official Development Assistance and Related Matters.
Yuriko Koike (Japanese: 小池 百合子, Hepburn: Koike Yuriko; born 15 July 1952) is a Japanese politician who has served as…Yuriko Koike (Japanese: 小池 百合子, Hepburn: Koike Yuriko; born 15 July 1952) is a Japanese politician who has served as the Governor of Tokyo since 2016. Previously, she also served as a member of the House of Councillors from 1992 to 1993, a member of the House of Representatives from 1993 to 2016, Minister of the Environment under Junichiro Koizumi from 2003 to 2006, and Minister of Defense under Shinzo Abe between July and August 2007. Born and raised in Ashiya, a wealthy, small, and popular city near Kobe in Hyōgo Prefecture, Koike graduated from Cairo University in Cairo, Egypt in 1976, and served as a member of the House of Representatives of Japan from 1993 until 2016, when she resigned to run for Governor of Tokyo. Previously, she also served as the Minister of the Environment under Junichiro Koizumi's cabinet from 2003 to 2006 and briefly as Minister of Defense under the first cabinet of Shinzo Abe in between July and August 2007. Koike was elected Governor of Tokyo in 2016, becoming the metropolis' first female governor. Koike was re-elected in 2020 and 2024, winning 59.7% and 42.8% of the popular vote respectively. Considered one of the most high-profile and well-known Japanese politicians, Koike has been frequently mentioned as holding Prime Ministerial ambitions. She ran in the 2008 Liberal Democratic Party leadership election, becoming the first woman to run for the leadership of a major Japanese political party, however she came in third place losing to Tarō Asō. In 2017, Koike left the LDP amid much media attention and launched two parties: the national party, Kibō no Tō (希望の党/Party of Hope) and the regional party Tomin First no Kai (都民ファーストの会/Tokyoites First Party). Kibō no Tō contested the 2017 general election with Koike as a leader, however the party underperformed expectations and mostly disappeared after merging with the Democratic Party for the People in 2018. The same year, Koike stepped down as leader of Tomin First and officially became independent. However, Koike continues to endorse and campaign for Tomin First candidates in Tokyo and the party still makes frequent use of her image and policies. Koike has come under some scrutiny from Japanese liberals and Koreans in both Japan and Korea for her refusal to acknowledge the occurrence of 1923 Kantō Massacre, which mainly targeted ethnic Koreans, as well as her association with groups that are often labeled anti-Korean.
Natsuo Yamaguchi (山口 那津男, Yamaguchi Natsuo; born 12 July 1952) is a Japanese politician who served as the chief…Natsuo Yamaguchi (山口 那津男, Yamaguchi Natsuo; born 12 July 1952) is a Japanese politician who served as the chief representative of Komeito from 2009 to 2024. He is a member of the House of Councillors since 2001 and previously served in the House of Representatives from 1990 to 1996.
Kentaro Koba (木庭 健太郎, Koba Kentarō; born 25 June 1952) is a Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party, a member of…Kentaro Koba (木庭 健太郎, Koba Kentarō; born 25 June 1952) is a Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Mii District, Fukuoka and graduate of Soka University, he worked at Nishinippon Shimbun from 1975 to 1988 as a reporter. He was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 1989.
Tsutomu Sato (佐藤 勉, Satō Tsutomu; born 20 June 1952) is a Japanese politician who served as Minister for Internal…Tsutomu Sato (佐藤 勉, Satō Tsutomu; born 20 June 1952) is a Japanese politician who served as Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications in 2009 and Chairman of the National Public Safety Commission from 2008 to 2009 under Prime Minister Taro Aso. A member of the House of Representatives for the Liberal Democratic Party from 1996 to 2026, Sato has also served in party positions as chairman of the General Council from 2020 to 2021 and chairman of the Diet Affairs Committee from 2013 to 2016. A native of Tochigi Prefecture and graduate of Nihon University, he worked as for a construction company and served in the Tochigi Prefectural Assembly before his election to the House of Representatives.
Makoto Hirayama (平山 誠, Hirayama Makoto; 12 May 1952 – 27 February 2018) is a Japanese politician. He served in the…Makoto Hirayama (平山 誠, Hirayama Makoto; 12 May 1952 – 27 February 2018) is a Japanese politician. He served in the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature) from 2009 until 2013.
Yuji Yamamoto (山本 有二, Yamamoto Yūji; born 11 May 1952) is a former Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party…Yuji Yamamoto (山本 有二, Yamamoto Yūji; born 11 May 1952) is a former Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who served as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Kōchi Prefecture and graduate of Waseda University, he was elected to the Kōchi Prefectural Assembly in 1985 (serving for one term) and then to the House of Representatives for the first time in 1990. Yamamoto later served as Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries in the Third Abe Cabinet.
Seiichiro Murakami (村上 誠一郎, Murakami Seiichirō; born 11 May 1952) is a Japanese politician. He was the Minister of…Seiichiro Murakami (村上 誠一郎, Murakami Seiichirō; born 11 May 1952) is a Japanese politician. He was the Minister of State for Regulatory Reform, the Minister of State for Industrial Revitalization Corporation of Japan, the Minister of State for Administrative Reform, the Minister of State for Special Zones for Structural Reform and the Minister of State for Regional Revitalization in Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's Cabinet. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Law from Tokyo University, and was first elected in 1986 to the House of Representatives in Ehime Prefecture.
Yataro Tsuda (津田 弥太郎, Tsuda Yatarō; May 5, 1952 – April 6, 2026) was a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of…Yataro Tsuda (津田 弥太郎, Tsuda Yatarō; May 5, 1952 – April 6, 2026) was a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, who was a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Takayama, Gifu, he was elected for the first time in 2004. Tsuda died on April 6, 2026, at the age of 73.
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.
Atsushi Watanabe (渡部 篤, Watanabe Atsushi; born 12 April 1952) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party…Atsushi Watanabe (渡部 篤, Watanabe Atsushi; born 12 April 1952) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima and graduate of Komazawa University, he was elected to the first of his two terms in the city assembly of Aizuwakamatsu in 1982, to the first of his four terms in the assembly of Fukushima Prefecture and to the first of his terms in the House of Representatives in 2005.
Yoshimi Watanabe (渡辺 喜美, Watanabe Yoshimi; born 17 March 1952) is a former Japanese politician. He was formerly a…Yoshimi Watanabe (渡辺 喜美, Watanabe Yoshimi; born 17 March 1952) is a former Japanese politician. He was formerly a member of the Liberal Democratic Party and later the founder of Your Party, after which he became a member of Nippon Ishin no Kai until 2019 when he then became an independent politician. He was a member of the House of Representatives from 1996 to 2014, and returned to the Diet (national legislature) in 2016 as a member of the House of Councillors.
Shinako Tsuchiya (土屋 品子, Tsuchiya Shinako; born 2 February 1952) is a Japanese politician serving in the House of…Shinako Tsuchiya (土屋 品子, Tsuchiya Shinako; born 2 February 1952) is a Japanese politician serving in the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature) as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. A native of Kasukabe, Saitama and graduate of University of the Sacred Heart she was elected for the first time in 1996. Her father is Yoshihiko Tsuchiya, former governor of Saitama Prefecture.
Tetsuo Saito (斉藤 鉄夫, Saitō Tetsuo; born 5 February 1952) is a Japanese politician who served as chief representative of…Tetsuo Saito (斉藤 鉄夫, Saitō Tetsuo; born 5 February 1952) is a Japanese politician who served as chief representative of the Komeito from 2024 to 2026. He served as Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism from 2021 to 2024 and Minister of the Environment from 2008 to 2009. Born in Shimane Prefecture, he was educated at the Tokyo Institute of Technology and worked as an engineer before entering politics. He was elected to serve as chief representative of the Komeito to succeed Keiichi Ishii, who was defeated in the 2024 election.
Yoshitsugu Harada (原田 令嗣, Harada Yoshitsugu; born 2 February 1952) is a former Japanese politician of the Liberal…Yoshitsugu Harada (原田 令嗣, Harada Yoshitsugu; born 2 February 1952) is a former Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who served as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Yaizu, Shizuoka and graduate of Keio University, he worked at the public broadcaster NHK from 1974 to 2003. Harada served in the House of Representatives between 2003 and 2009, representing the Shizuoka 2nd district, succeeding his father Shōzō Harada.
