Toshio Ukishima (浮島 敏男, Ukishima Toshio; born 1 January 1949) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party…Toshio Ukishima (浮島 敏男, Ukishima Toshio; born 1 January 1949) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Tokyo and a high school graduate, he was elected for the first time in 2005 after working at a manufacturer of soft drinks.
Tomoo Nishikawa (西川 知雄, Nishikawa Tomoo) is a Japanese attorney and former politician, having previously served for one…Tomoo Nishikawa (西川 知雄, Nishikawa Tomoo) is a Japanese attorney and former politician, having previously served for one term in the House of Representatives.
Yoshihide Suga (菅 義偉, Suga Yoshihide; born 6 December 1948) is a Japanese former politician who served as Prime…Yoshihide Suga (菅 義偉, Suga Yoshihide; born 6 December 1948) is a Japanese former politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan from 2020 to 2021. A member of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), he was the party's president from 2020 to 2021 and also represented Kanagawa 2nd in the House of Representatives from 1996 to 2026. Before his premiership, he was the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications from 2006 to 2007, and the longest serving Chief Cabinet Secretary during the second administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe from 2012 to 2020. Born to a family of strawberry farmers in rural Akita Prefecture, Suga moved to Tokyo after graduating from high school, where he enrolled in Hosei University. Shortly after graduating, Suga became an aide to Representative Hikosaburo Okonogi in 1975, before entering politics himself when he was elected to the Yokohama Municipal Assembly in 1987. In the 1996 election, Suga was elected to the House of Representatives, representing Kanagawa's 2nd district as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). During his time in the Diet, Suga became a close ally of Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe. When Abe first became prime minister in 2006, he appointed Suga to the Cabinet as Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications. Suga left the Cabinet a year later, but after the LDP won the 2012 election, Suga was appointed Chief Cabinet Secretary, a role he would hold throughout Abe's second term as prime minister. This made him the longest-serving Chief Cabinet Secretary in Japanese history. In September 2020, after Abe announced that he would resign due to health concerns, Suga was elected to succeed him in the LDP presidential election and was subsequently elected prime minister by the Diet and appointed by Emperor Naruhito. Suga's premiership focused primarily on responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, including overseeing the rollout of vaccines in the country. Suga's time in office also saw the holding of the delayed 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympics in Tokyo and the announcement of a plan for Japan to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. While Suga began his time in office relatively popular, his approval ratings fell due to public dissatisfaction with the government's handling of the pandemic and the Olympic Games. Facing hesitancy from his party amid preparation for the upcoming 2021 general election, Suga announced on 3 September 2021 that he would not seek reelection in the 2021 LDP presidential election, effectively resigning as party president and prime minister. His tenure officially ended on 4 October 2021 after he was succeeded by Fumio Kishida. From 2024 to 2025, he served as the LDP's vice president. Suga retired from public office in February 2026 following that month's lower house election.
Fumihiro Himori (日森 文尋 Himori Fumihiro; December 3, 1948 – June 9, 2022) was a Japanese politician and member of the…Fumihiro Himori (日森 文尋 Himori Fumihiro; December 3, 1948 – June 9, 2022) was a Japanese politician and member of the House of Representatives for the Social Democratic Party.
Yōichi Masuzoe (舛添 要一, Masuzoe Yōichi; born 29 November 1948) is a Japanese politician who was elected to the position…Yōichi Masuzoe (舛添 要一, Masuzoe Yōichi; born 29 November 1948) is a Japanese politician who was elected to the position of governor of Tokyo in 2014 and resigned in June 2016 due to the misuse of public funds. He was previously a member of the Japanese House of Councillors and served as the Minister of Health, Labour, and Welfare. Before entering politics, he became well known in Japan as a television commentator on political issues.
Yoshitaka Itō (born 24 November 1948) is a Japanese politician, who has served as a member of the House of…Yoshitaka Itō (born 24 November 1948) is a Japanese politician, who has served as a member of the House of Representatives from Hokkaido since 2009. He is a member of the Liberal Democratic Party.
Kunio Hiramatsu (平松 邦夫, Hiramatsu Kunio; born 15 November 1948) is a Japanese politician who served as the mayor of…Kunio Hiramatsu (平松 邦夫, Hiramatsu Kunio; born 15 November 1948) is a Japanese politician who served as the mayor of Osaka in Japan. He was elected in 2007 with centre-left support from the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), People's New Party and the Social Democratic Party, defeating the centre-right supported incumbent Jun'ichi Seki by 50,000 votes. Hiramatsu unsuccessfully ran for re-election in Osaka's mayoral election on 27 November 2011, when his challenger was the former Osaka Governor Tōru Hashimoto. Despite support from both major Japanese national parties (the DPJ and the Liberal Democratic Party), and the Japanese Communist Party retracting their candidate to support his re-election bid, Hiramatsu lost to Hashimoto by a margin of well over 200,000 votes.
Taimei Yamaguchi (山口 泰明, Yamaguchi Taimei; born 10 November 1948) is a former Japanese politician of the Liberal…Taimei Yamaguchi (山口 泰明, Yamaguchi Taimei; born 10 November 1948) 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 Hiki District, Saitama and graduate of Nihon University, he was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 1996.
Koichi Hirata (平田 耕一, Hirata Kōichi; born 9 November 1948) is a former Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic…Koichi Hirata (平田 耕一, Hirata Kōichi; born 9 November 1948) is a former Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), who served as a member of the House of Councillors and the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Yokkaichi, Mie and graduate of Keio University, he was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 1995 as an independent. After losing his seat in 2000, he was elected to the House of Representatives in 2003 and represented Mie Prefecture until 2009.
Tetsuo Kanno (菅野 哲雄, Kanno Tetsuo; born 22 October 1948) is a Japanese politician of the Social Democratic Party, a…Tetsuo Kanno (菅野 哲雄, Kanno Tetsuo; born 22 October 1948) is a Japanese politician of the Social Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature).
Hiroyoshi Nishi (西 博義, Nishi Hiroyoshi; born 3 October 1948) is a Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party, a…Hiroyoshi Nishi (西 博義, Nishi Hiroyoshi; born 3 October 1948) is a Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Arida District, Wakayama he attended University of Tokushima as both an undergraduate and graduate student and taught at a school in Wakayama from 1973 to 1992. In 1993, he was elected for the first time.
Makoto Tonami (戸並 誠, Tonami Makoto; born September 18, 1948), also known as Mac Akasaka (マック 赤坂, Makku Akasaka), is a…Makoto Tonami (戸並 誠, Tonami Makoto; born September 18, 1948), also known as Mac Akasaka (マック 赤坂, Makku Akasaka), is a Japanese businessman, retired politician and activist and former perennial candidate.
Yoko Komiyama (小宮山 洋子, Komiyama Yōko; born 17 September 1948) is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of…Yoko Komiyama (小宮山 洋子, Komiyama Yōko; born 17 September 1948) is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature).
Kunio Hatoyama (鳩山邦夫, Hatoyama Kunio; 13 September 1948 – 21 June 2016) was a Japanese politician who served as…Kunio Hatoyama (鳩山邦夫, Hatoyama Kunio; 13 September 1948 – 21 June 2016) was a Japanese politician who served as Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications under Prime Ministers Shinzō Abe and Yasuo Fukuda until 12 June 2009.
Eisuke Mori (森 英介, Mori Eisuke; born 31 August 1948) is a Japanese politician who has served as Speaker of the House of…Eisuke Mori (森 英介, Mori Eisuke; born 31 August 1948) is a Japanese politician who has served as Speaker of the House of Representatives since 2026. He is a member of the Liberal Democratic Party and is the former Minister of Justice in the Asō Cabinet. A native of Katsuura, Chiba and graduate of Tohoku University, he joined Kawasaki Heavy Industries in 1974 and received a Ph.D. in engineering. He was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 1990. His grandfather is former member of the House of Representatives Nobuteru Mori, his father is former Minister of the Environment Yoshihide Mori, and his uncle is former Somu-cho (総務長官) Kiyomoto Mori. In the Cabinet of Prime Minister Tarō Asō, appointed on 24 September 2008, Mori was appointed Minister of Justice. This was his first appointment to the Cabinet. Mori is affiliated to the openly revisionist lobby Nippon Kaigi.
Masayoshi Yoshino (吉野 正芳, Yoshino Masayoshi; born 8 August 1948) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic…Masayoshi Yoshino (吉野 正芳, Yoshino Masayoshi; born 8 August 1948) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a former member of the House of Representatives in the Diet. A native of Iwaki, Fukushima and graduate of Waseda University, he was elected to the first of his three terms in the assembly of Fukushima Prefecture in 1987 and then to the House of Representatives for the first time in 2000. He represented the Fukushima 5th district from 2014 until 2024 when the district was abolished. On 26 April 2017, he became the minister responsible for disaster reconstruction in the Tohoku Region, after the previous minister, Masahiro Imamura, resigned after making insensitive remarks about the 2011 earthquake and tsunami which had hit the Tohoku region.
Kozo Yamamoto (山本 幸三, Yamamoto Kōzō; born 8 August 1948) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party…Kozo Yamamoto (山本 幸三, Yamamoto Kōzō; born 8 August 1948) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), who is a former Ministry of Finance official, and a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). He served as State Minister in charge of: Regional Revitalization; Regulatory Reform; Administrative Reform; City, People, Job-Creation; and Civil Service Reform from 2016 to 2017. Previous posts include Vice Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry (in the 2006 cabinet of Shinzo Abe), Chairman of the Judicial Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives, Chairman of the Special Commission on Consumer Issues, and Chairman of the Special Commission on Regional Revitalization. He is known to be one of the main fathers of Abenomics. A native of Yukuhashi, Fukuoka, Yamamoto attended the University of Tokyo and received his MBA from Cornell University in the United States. He was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 1993 after an unsuccessful run in 1990. Tatsuo Murayama, Yamamoto's father in law, was an LDP member of the House of Representatives who served as Minister of Finance and Minister of Health and Welfare. His uncle, Momotaro Yanagida, was mayor of the City of Moji (Fukuoka Prefecture) and a member of the House of Representatives.
Hiroshi Hiraguchi (平口 洋, Hiraguchi Hiroshi; born 1 August 1948) is a Japanese politician who has served as Minister of…Hiroshi Hiraguchi (平口 洋, Hiraguchi Hiroshi; born 1 August 1948) is a Japanese politician who has served as Minister of Justice since October 2025. A member of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), he serves as a member of the House of Representatives from 2005 to 2009 and since 2012. A native of Hiroshima Prefecture and graduate of the University of Tokyo, he was an official in the Ministry of Construction before becoming a politician.
Akira Shinoda (篠田 昭, Shinoda Akira; born 17 July 1948) is a Japanese politician who served as the mayor of Niigata City…Akira Shinoda (篠田 昭, Shinoda Akira; born 17 July 1948) is a Japanese politician who served as the mayor of Niigata City in Japan. He was first elected in 2002 and retired in 2018. He was succeeded by Yaichi Nakahara.
Takashi Shinohara (篠原 孝, Shinohara Takashi; born 17 July 1948) is a Japanese politician who served as a member of the…Takashi Shinohara (篠原 孝, Shinohara Takashi; born 17 July 1948) is a Japanese politician who served as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature).
Shingo Nishimura (西村眞悟, Nishimura Shingo; born 7 July 1948) is a former Japanese politician who was a member of the…Shingo Nishimura (西村眞悟, Nishimura Shingo; born 7 July 1948) is a former Japanese politician who was a member of the House of Representatives from 1993 to 2014. Nishimura is known for his negationism of Japanese war crimes committed during World War II.
Tsutomu Tomioka (冨岡 勉, Tomioka Tsutomu; born 4 July 1948) is a Japanese doctor and former politician who served in the…Tsutomu Tomioka (冨岡 勉, Tomioka Tsutomu; born 4 July 1948) is a Japanese doctor and former politician who served in the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature) as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party.
Fumio Ueda (上田 文雄, Ueda Fumio; June 11, 1948 – September 18, 2025) was a Japanese politician who was the mayor of…Fumio Ueda (上田 文雄, Ueda Fumio; June 11, 1948 – September 18, 2025) was a Japanese politician who was the mayor of Sapporo, capital city of Hokkaido.
Shoukichi Kina (喜納昌吉, Kina Shōkichi; born June 10, 1948 in Koza, Okinawa), is a Japanese rock musician and politician.…Shoukichi Kina (喜納昌吉, Kina Shōkichi; born June 10, 1948 in Koza, Okinawa), is a Japanese rock musician and politician. He, along with his band Champloose, played a large role in the Okinawan home-grown "folk rock" scene in the 1970s and 1980s. His first big hit was "Haisai Ojisan" ("Hey, old man") in 1972, which he wrote when he was in high school. A Song from the 1980 album Blood Lines, "Hana" also named "Subete no Hito no Kokoro ni Hana o", is frequently heard in international markets. He was elected a member of the House of Councillors in July 2004. In 2010 he ran for a second term but lost.
Seiji Suzuki (鈴木 政二, Suzuki Seiji; born June 6, 1948) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, and a…Seiji Suzuki (鈴木 政二, Suzuki Seiji; born June 6, 1948) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, and a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature).
Kimitaka Fujino (Japanese: 藤野公孝 Fujino Kimitaka; 29 May 1948 – 9 July 2026) was a Japanese politician. A member of the…Kimitaka Fujino (Japanese: 藤野公孝 Fujino Kimitaka; 29 May 1948 – 9 July 2026) was a Japanese politician. A member of the Liberal Democratic Party, he served in the House of Councillors from 2003 to 2007. Fujino died in Yokohama on 9 July 2026, at the age of 78.
Kiyoshi Ueda (上田 清司, Ueda Kiyoshi; born 15 May 1948) is a Japanese politician currently serving as a member of the…Kiyoshi Ueda (上田 清司, Ueda Kiyoshi; born 15 May 1948) is a Japanese politician currently serving as a member of the Senate for the Saitama at-large district after winning a by-election in 2019. He has signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, signaling his opposition to any and all tax increases. He previously served as governor of Saitama Prefecture from 2003 to 2019, when he subsequently retired.
Mitsuyoshi Yanagisawa (柳沢 光美, Yanagisawa Mitsuyoshi; born May 5, 1948) is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party…Mitsuyoshi Yanagisawa (柳沢 光美, Yanagisawa Mitsuyoshi; born May 5, 1948) is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Tōmi, Nagano and graduate of Seijo University, he was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 2004 after an unsuccessful run in 2001.
Hirotaka Akamatsu (赤松 広隆, Akamatsu Hirotaka; born 3 May 1948) is a Japanese politician from the Constitutional…Hirotaka Akamatsu (赤松 広隆, Akamatsu Hirotaka; born 3 May 1948) is a Japanese politician from the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, a former minister and Vice Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan.
Tomoko Abe (阿部 知子, Abe Tomoko; born 24 April 1948) is a Japanese former politician who served as a member of the House…Tomoko Abe (阿部 知子, Abe Tomoko; born 24 April 1948) is a Japanese former politician who served as a member of the House of Representatives. She is currently a member of the Constitutional Democratic Party. She was formerly the policy chief of the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SDP), and later the president and sole member of the short-lived Tomorrow Party of Japan. She has been elected to Kanagawa 12th District constituency eight times. As of February 2024, she was the Deputy Director-General for the CDP’s Office for Tsunagaru Networking.
Yuji Sawa (沢 雄二, Sawa Yūji; April 22, 1948 – January 3, 2025) was a Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party, a…Yuji Sawa (沢 雄二, Sawa Yūji; April 22, 1948 – January 3, 2025) was a Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Osaka and graduate of Keio University, he was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 2004 after working at Fuji Television where he produced news and opinion shows. He died of pneumonia on January 3, 2025, at the age of 76.
Yoshio Kimura (木村義雄, Kimura Yoshio; born 17 April 1948) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party and a…Yoshio Kimura (木村義雄, Kimura Yoshio; born 17 April 1948) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party and a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Sanuki, Kagawa and graduate of Chuo University, Kimura worked at Sumitomo Bank from 1972 to 1975. After serving in the Kagawa Prefectural Assembly for one term, he was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 1986. He was a Senior Vice-Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare. Kimura also served in the House of Representatives between 1986 and 2009 as a member of the Kagawa old 1st district and Kagawa 2nd district. Kimura ran in the national PR block in the 2022 House of Councillors election, but was defeated. In February 2026, he entered the House of Councillors as the next candidate on the LDP list, after Shigeharu Aoyama resigned to contest the 2026 general election.
Akio Fukuda (福田 昭夫, Fukuda Akio; born 17 April 1948) is a Japanese politician of the Constitutional Democratic Party…Akio Fukuda (福田 昭夫, Fukuda Akio; born 17 April 1948) is a Japanese politician of the Constitutional Democratic Party and a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Imaichi, Tochigi and graduate of Tohoku University, he joined the city government of Imaichi in 1971 and became the mayor of the city in 1991, serving for three terms. He was elected to be the governor of Tochigi Prefecture in 2000 but lost his re-election in 2004. In 2005, he was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time. In the February 2026 election, Fukuda was the candidate of the newly formed Centrist Reform Alliance in Tochigi 2nd district, but lost to Liberal Democratic Party candidate Kiyoshi Igarashi. He subsequently left the alliance, criticising the decision to form a new party and the placement of Komeito-affiliated candidates at the top of the party’s proportional representation lists.
Toshio Ogawa (小川 敏夫, Ogawa Toshio; born 18 March 1948) is a Japanese politician of the Constitutional Democratic Party…Toshio Ogawa (小川 敏夫, Ogawa Toshio; born 18 March 1948) is a Japanese politician of the Constitutional Democratic Party and a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). Ogawa is a former Minister of Justice. A native of Nerima, Tokyo, and a graduate of Rikkyo University, he was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 1998 after working as a prosecutor.
Masataka Matsuura (松浦 正敬, Matsuura Masataka) is a Japanese politician who served as mayor of Matsue, the capital city…Masataka Matsuura (松浦 正敬, Matsuura Masataka) is a Japanese politician who served as mayor of Matsue, the capital city of Shimane Prefecture, Japan from 2000 to 2021.
Ryuji Yamane (山根 隆治, Yamane Ryūji; 8 March 1948 – 10 December 2022) was a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party…Ryuji Yamane (山根 隆治, Yamane Ryūji; 8 March 1948 – 10 December 2022) was a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature).
Masashi Nakano (中野 正志, Nakano Masashi; born 29 February 1948) is a Japanese politician and former Secretary-General of…Masashi Nakano (中野 正志, Nakano Masashi; born 29 February 1948) is a Japanese politician and former Secretary-General of the Party for Japanese Kokoro. A native of Shiogama, Miyagi Prefecture and graduate of Tohoku Gakuin University, he was first elected to the assembly of Miyagi Prefecture in 1983. During his second term as an assemblyman, he contested the national House of Councillors election in 1989 as an independent but was defeated. He was elected to the House of Representatives in the national Diet as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party in the 1996 general election, representing Miyagi District No.2. In the 2000 general election he was defeated in his district by Sayuri Kamata. In the 2003 general election he was again defeated by Kamata in Miyagi No.2, but was elected to return to the House of Representatives as a member for the Tōhoku proportional block. He retained his seat in the 2005 general election and was appointed Senior Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry in Shinzo Abe's first ministry in 2007. He contested his seat in the 2009 general election as a Liberal Democratic Party candidate and with an endorsement from the Komeito Party, but lost his seat as the LDP lost a general election for the first time since the party was formed in 1955. Nakano contested the July 2010 House of Councillors election but was unable to win a seat in the national proportional representation block. In 2012 he was appointed as Miyagi No.2 district leader of the Sunrise Party and resigned from the LDP. Following the Sunrise Party's merger with the Japan Restoration Party in November 2012, Nakano was elected to the national proportional representation block as a JRP member in the July 2013 House of Councillors election. With JRP's split in August 2014 he joined the newly formed Party for Future Generations. He was appointed as the party's secretary-general in November 2015. In December 2015 the party changed its name to the Party for Japanese Kokoro. In November 2018, the Party for Japanese Kokoro dissolved, and Nakano returned to the LDP.
Kisaburo Tokai (渡海 紀三朗, Tokai Kisaburō; born 11 February 1948 in Takasago, Hyōgo) is a former Japanese politician who…Kisaburo Tokai (渡海 紀三朗, Tokai Kisaburō; born 11 February 1948 in Takasago, Hyōgo) is a former Japanese politician who served as the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology under Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda from 2007 to 2008.
Muneo Suzuki (鈴木 宗男 Suzuki Muneo, born 31 January 1948), commonly known simply as "Muneo" due to his common last name…Muneo Suzuki (鈴木 宗男 Suzuki Muneo, born 31 January 1948), commonly known simply as "Muneo" due to his common last name, is a Japanese politician from Ashoro, Hokkaido, currently serving as a member of the House of Councillors since 2019, representing the National PR block.
Yoshio Hachiro (鉢呂 吉雄, Hachiro Yoshio; born 25 January 1948) is a former Japanese politician of the Constitutional…Yoshio Hachiro (鉢呂 吉雄, Hachiro Yoshio; born 25 January 1948) is a former Japanese politician of the Constitutional Democratic Party who served as a member of the House of Councillors and the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature).
Mieko Kamimoto (神本 美恵子, Kamimoto Mieko; born 22 January 1948) is a Japanese politician of the Constitutional Democratic…Mieko Kamimoto (神本 美恵子, Kamimoto Mieko; born 22 January 1948) is a Japanese politician of the Constitutional Democratic Party and a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Asakura District, Fukuoka and graduate of Fukuoka University of Education, she was elected for the first time in 2001.
Tsuneo Horiuchi (堀内 恒夫, Horiuchi Tsuneo; born January 16, 1948) is a former professional baseball player in Japan's…Tsuneo Horiuchi (堀内 恒夫, Horiuchi Tsuneo; born January 16, 1948) is a former professional baseball player in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball and a politician. A right-handed pitcher, in 2008 he was voted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame.
Seiken Akamine (赤嶺 政賢, Akamine Seiken; born 18 December 1947) is a Japanese politician of the Japanese Communist Party…Seiken Akamine (赤嶺 政賢, Akamine Seiken; born 18 December 1947) is a Japanese politician of the Japanese Communist Party, who served as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Naha, Okinawa and graduate of the Tokyo University of Education, he taught at high schools. He was elected to the first of his three terms in the Naha City Assembly in 1985 and then to the House of Representatives for the first time in 2000. In the 2014 Japanese general elections, he won Okinawa's 1st district. The election saw significant gains for the Japanese Communist Party, which raised its seat total from 8 to 21. Akamine's victory was JCP's first single-seat constituency victory in 18 years. His victory was part of a wave against the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in Okinawa caused by local anger over by a joint US-Japan decision to relocate a marine base to a residential area. LDP candidates lost all four Okinawan seats despite the party winning nationwide. In the 2017 general election, Akamine retained his seat. In the 2026 Japanese general election he lost the district to the previous LDP representative Kōnosuke Kokuba.
Azuma Konno (今野 東, Konno Azuma; 17 December 1947 – 24 April 2013) was a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of…Azuma Konno (今野 東, Konno Azuma; 17 December 1947 – 24 April 2013) was a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, who served as a member of the House of Councillors and the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Shiogama, Miyagi Prefecture and graduate of Meiji Gakuin University, he was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 2007 after serving in the House of Representatives for two terms.
Yūhei Satō (佐藤 雄平, Satō Yūhei; born 13 December 1947) is a former governor of Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. He was first…Yūhei Satō (佐藤 雄平, Satō Yūhei; born 13 December 1947) is a former governor of Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. He was first elected in November 2006, after the previous governor, Eisaku Satō, was forced to step down after bribery charges. He chose not to seek a third term in the election held in October 2014, stating that he had made a mark on addressing the problems that Fukushima faced following the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami and the resulting nuclear disaster, and that further rehabilitation efforts should take place under a new leader.
Akira Matsu (松 あきら, Matsu Akira; born December 3, 1947) is a Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party, a member of…Akira Matsu (松 あきら, Matsu Akira; born December 3, 1947) is a Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Kanagawa Prefecture and former member of Takarazuka Revue, she was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 1995 as a candidate for the New Frontier Party. She lost her re-election in July 2007 but in September 2007 took over the seat in the house that was vacated when Yutaka Kobayashi, a member of the house, resigned. Her husband Tomoo Nishikawa is a lawyer and a former Representative of Japan.
Yūichirō Itō (伊藤 祐一郎, Itō Yūichirō; born 17 November 1947) is a Japanese politician and former governor of Kagoshima…Yūichirō Itō (伊藤 祐一郎, Itō Yūichirō; born 17 November 1947) is a Japanese politician and former governor of Kagoshima Prefecture in Japan. A native of Izumi, Kagoshima and graduate of the University of Tokyo with the Bachelor of Laws in June 1971, he had worked at the Ministry of Home Affairs since 1972 before elected governor. He served three terms as governor from 2004 until 2016. In July 2016 he sought a fourth term but was defeated by Satoshi Mitazono.
