Tsutomu Hata (羽田 孜, Hata Tsutomu; 24 August 1935 – 28 August 2017) was a Japanese politician who briefly served as…
Tsutomu Hata (羽田 孜, Hata Tsutomu; 24 August 1935 – 28 August 2017) was a Japanese politician who briefly served as prime minister of Japan in 1994. Born in Tokyo, Hata graduated from Seijo University and was first elected to the National Diet in 1969. He rose to become a key member of the Liberal Democratic Party's Tanaka/Takeshita faction, and served as agriculture, forests, and fisheries minister in the 1980s and finance minister from 1991 to 1992. After Keizō Obuchi took over the faction, Hata formed the Japan Renewal Party in 1993, which joined in the anti-LDP coalition which formed Morihiro Hosokawa's government. Hata served as foreign minister, then replaced Hosokawa as prime minister when he resigned. However, the Japan Socialist Party soon left the coalition, causing it to collapse. Hata lost leadership of his party when it merged with the New Frontier Party, then formed his own Sun Party, which in turn merged with the Good Governance Party then Democratic Party in 1998. Hata became secretary-general of the party, and remained one of its senior advisors until his death.
Famous Japanese People: Politician・Legislator
Politician・Legislator: 2,229 people
Takayuki Ochiai (落合 貴之, Ochiai Takayuki; born 17 August 1979) is a Japanese politician from the Constitutional…
Takayuki Ochiai (落合 貴之, Ochiai Takayuki; born 17 August 1979) is a Japanese politician from the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) and a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). Ochiai represents the Tokyo 6th district.
Tomoko Ukishima (浮島 智子, Ukishima Tomoko; born 1 February 1963) is a Japanese politician who serves in the House of…
Tomoko Ukishima (浮島 智子, Ukishima Tomoko; born 1 February 1963) is a Japanese politician who serves in the House of Representatives as a member of the Komeito Party. She was previously in the House of Councillors.
Toshihide Muraoka (born 25 July 1960) is a Japanese politician from the Democratic Party For the People (DPP).
Kiichirō Hatoyama (鳩山 紀一郎, Hatoyama Kiichirō; born 26 July 1976) is a Japanese academic and politician. He was a member…
Kiichirō Hatoyama (鳩山 紀一郎, Hatoyama Kiichirō; born 26 July 1976) is a Japanese academic and politician. He was a member of the House of Representatives from 2024 to 2026.
Kumiko Hayakawa (早川 久美子, Hayakawa Kumiko; born 18 January 1971) is a former Japanese politician of the Democratic Party…
Kumiko Hayakawa (早川 久美子, Hayakawa Kumiko; born 18 January 1971) is a former Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan and a former member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). She was elected for the first time in 2009. Japanese media revealed that Hayakawa was a former swimsuit model and called her one of "Ozawa's girls" in reference to Ichirō Ozawa, the DPJ leader at the time. In 2010 Hayakawa was part of a parliamentary delegation to President of the Republic of China Ma Ying-jeou. In 2012 Hayakawa appeared as a ring girl at a professional boxing match. A native of Katsushika, Tokyo, she attended California State University, Sacramento.
Genki Sudo (須藤 元気, Sudō Genki; born 8 March 1978) is a Japanese former mixed martial artist, singer, actor, and…
Genki Sudo (須藤 元気, Sudō Genki; born 8 March 1978) is a Japanese former mixed martial artist, singer, actor, and politician. Between 1998 and 2006, Sudo was a professional athlete and then was in the entertainment industry from 2006 to 2019. He has since returned to his previous position in World Order as of September 2021 where he is currently active. He is a retired mixed martial artist and a kickboxer who, until 31 December 2006 competed in the Japanese fighting organization HERO'S and before that, the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Pancrase. He is known for his elaborate ring entrances and unorthodox fighting style. Sudo, following his retirement, transitioned into a career in entertainment as a Japanese singer, composer, choreographer, actor, professional calligrapher and author. He is the producer, director, and lead vocalist of the music group World Order, which is known for their techno music style and highly synchronised robotic choreography. Sudo served in the House of Councillors as a political independent between 2019 and 2024. In 2025, he joined the conservative Democratic Party For the People.
Jiro Akama (赤間 二郎, Akama Jirō; born 27 March 1968) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member…
Jiro Akama (赤間 二郎, Akama Jirō; born 27 March 1968) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). He is the Senior Vice Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications. A native of Sagamihara, Kanagawa, he graduated from Rikkyo University and received his master's degree in economic sociology from the University of Manchester. He was elected to the first of his two terms in the assembly of Kanagawa Prefecture in 1999 and then to the House of Representatives for the first time in 2005.
Shigeru Ishiba (born 4 February 1957) is a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan and President of…
Shigeru Ishiba (born 4 February 1957) is a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan and President of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) from 2024 until his resignation in 2025. He has represented Tottori 1st in the House of Representatives since 1996. Before his premiership, he was the Minister of Defense from 2007 to 2008 and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries from 2008 to 2009, as well as Secretary-General of the LDP from 2012 to 2014. The son of politician Jirō Ishiba, he graduated from Keio University in 1979. Prior to entering politics after his father's death, Ishiba worked at a bank before being elected to the House of Representatives in the 1986 general election as a member of the LDP at the age of 29. As a Diet member, Ishiba specialized in agricultural policy and defense policy. He served as parliamentary vice minister of agriculture under the premiership of Kiichi Miyazawa, but left the LDP in 1993 to join the Japan Renewal Party. After transitioning through several parties and returning to the LDP in 1997, Ishiba held various prominent positions, including Director-general of the Defense Agency under the premiership of Junichiro Koizumi, minister of defense under the premiership of Yasuo Fukuda and minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries under the premiership of Tarō Asō. Ishiba became a key figure within the LDP, running for party leadership multiple times. First in 2008 where he placed fifth, and notably against Shinzo Abe in the 2012 and 2018 elections. Despite his criticisms of LDP factionalism, he established his own faction, Suigetsukai, in 2015, aiming for leadership. After Abe's second resignation, Ishiba ran again for party president in 2020, but placed third behind Yoshihide Suga. Ishiba declined to run and endorsed Taro Kono in the 2021 election, which was won by Fumio Kishida. After Kishida announced that he would step down, Ishiba contested for the fifth time in the 2024 election where he defeated Sanae Takaichi in a second round run-off, becoming the new party leader and prime minister–designate, and was formally elected Prime Minister by the National Diet on 1 October 2024. As prime minister, Ishiba almost immediately announced a snap general election, where the ruling LDP coalition lost its majority in the House of Representatives for the first time since 2009, suffering its second-worst result in party history. In the National Diet, Ishiba relied on opposition parties to pass legislation due to his coalition's minority government status. On foreign policy, Ishiba moved Japan economically closer to India and South Korea amidst protectionist policies being employed by the United States, while continuing to support Ukraine during the Russian invasion that began in 2022. After the LDP-Komeito coalition lost its majority in the House of Councillors after a poor result in the 2025 election, Ishiba began to face calls within the LDP for him to resign. Ishiba initially announced he planned to remain as prime minister, citing the need to see through tariff negotiations with the United States. He eventually announced his intention to resign as party president and as prime minister in September 2025, and was succeeded as prime minister by Takaichi the next month. Ishiba has developed a reputation throughout his career as a political maverick due to his willingness to criticize his own party, as well as his relatively liberal stances on social issues; he supported a motion of no-confidence against the Miyazawa Cabinet in 1993 and criticized Abe throughout his second premiership, despite serving in the governments of both prime ministers. During his tenure as prime minister however, Ishiba was criticized for being too hesitant to embrace reform and for reversing several of his earlier positions.
Koji Sato (佐藤 公治, Satō Kōji; born 28 July 1959) is a Japanese politician.
Go Shinohara (Japanese: 篠原豪, Hepburn: Shinohara Go; born 12 February 1975) is a Japanese politician serving as a member…
Go Shinohara (Japanese: 篠原豪, Hepburn: Shinohara Go; born 12 February 1975) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the House of Representatives since 2014. From 2011 to 2014, he was a member of the Yokohama City Council.
Makiko Kikuta (菊田 真紀子, Kikuta Makiko; born 24 October 1969) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the…
Makiko Kikuta (菊田 真紀子, Kikuta Makiko; born 24 October 1969) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the House of Representatives since 2003.
Chinami Nishimura (西村 智奈美, Nishimura Chinami; born 13 January 1967) is a Japanese politician who served as the…
Chinami Nishimura (西村 智奈美, Nishimura Chinami; born 13 January 1967) is a Japanese politician who served as the Secretary-General of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan from 2021 to 2022. She is a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet and represents the Niigata 1st district. Her married name is Chinami Honda (本多 智奈美, Honda Chinami).
Takahiro Kuroiwa (黒岩宇洋, Kuroiwa Takahiro; born 13 October 1966) is a Japanese politician. He has been a member of the…
Takahiro Kuroiwa (黒岩宇洋, Kuroiwa Takahiro; born 13 October 1966) is a Japanese politician. He has been a member of the House of Representatives from 2024 to 2026, having previously served from 2009 to 2012 and from 2014 to 2021. From 2002 to 2007, he was a member of the House of Councillors.
Shinichi Nakatani (中谷真一, Nakatani Shinichi; born 30 September 1976) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the…
Shinichi Nakatani (中谷真一, Nakatani Shinichi; born 30 September 1976) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the House of Representatives since 2012. From 2022 to 2023, he served as State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry and State Minister of the Cabinet Office.
Mitsunori Okamoto (岡本 充功, Okamoto Mitsunori; born 18 June 1971) is a Japanese politician of the Constitutional…
Mitsunori Okamoto (岡本 充功, Okamoto Mitsunori; born 18 June 1971) is a Japanese politician of the Constitutional Democratic Party, who served as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Yōkaichi, Shiga and graduate of Nagoya University, he obtained his medical license in 1996 and received his Ph.D. in medicine from Nagoya University. He was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 2003. He was defeated in the 2005 election. He ran again to the House of Representatives in 2009 in the 9th district of Aichi defeating Prime Minister from 1989 to 1991, Toshiki Kaifu in a stunning upset. After losing his seat and being in 6th of 5 elected candidates for the CDP in the Tōkai proportional representation block during the 2021 election, he won a constituency in 2024, defeating Yasumasa Nagasaka in Aichi 9th district.
Shu Watanabe (渡辺 周, Watanabe Shū; born 11 December 1961) is a Japanese politician of the Constitutional Democratic…
Shu Watanabe (渡辺 周, Watanabe Shū; born 11 December 1961) is a Japanese politician of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, who served as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet of Japan (national legislature).
Takashi Kawamura (河村 たかし, Kawamura Takashi; born 3 November 1948) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member…
Takashi Kawamura (河村 たかし, Kawamura Takashi; born 3 November 1948) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the House of Representatives representing Aichi 1st since October 2024, a position he had previously held from 1993 to 2009. Prior to this, he served as the 35th mayor of Nagoya from 2009 to 2024. Kawamura was the Deputy Leader of the far-right Conservative Party of Japan, until a falling out with the leader, Naoki Hyakuta. He is also the founder and leader of the Nagoya-based regional party Genzei Nippon. Kawamura's antics have earned him a peculiar reputation outside of Nagoya, but local voters see him as an exponent of Nagoya's unique culture who constantly speaks in strong dialect (Nagoya-ben). As of 2021, he has been elected for 4 terms as mayor, and there are 12 members of his Genzei Nippon party on the Nagoya City Council.
Kaname Tajima (田嶋 要, Tajima Kaname; born 22 September 1961) is a Japanese politician serving in the House of…
Kaname Tajima (田嶋 要, Tajima Kaname; born 22 September 1961) is a Japanese politician serving in the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature) as a member of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan. A native of Nagoya, Aichi he attended the University of Tokyo and also earned MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He was elected for the first time in 2003 after working at NTT for 20 years. Tajima is part of the CDP's shadow cabinet 'Next Cabinet' as the shadow Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.
Midori Tanno (丹野 みどり; born July 3, 1973) is a politician from Aichi Prefecture and a former freelance announcer. She…
Midori Tanno (丹野 みどり; born July 3, 1973) is a politician from Aichi Prefecture and a former freelance announcer. She sits in the House of Representatives as a member of the Democratic Party For the People.
Chisato Morishita (森下千里, Morishita Chisato; born 1 September 1981) is a Japanese politician, former gravure idol…
Chisato Morishita (森下千里, Morishita Chisato; born 1 September 1981) is a Japanese politician, former gravure idol, tarento, actress and race queen from Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Her popularity as race queen opened the doors for her singing and acting career. She has been Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Environment within Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's cabinet since 2025. She is also a member of the House of Councillors representing Tohoku PR since 2024. In 2004, she portrayed Zero Suit Samus in a series of commercials for Metroid: Zero Mission in Japan. She also wrote a "Play Diary" for the Metroid: Zero Mission official site, which was a strategy guide for the first part of Zero Mission, and also contributed signed flyers and standees, which were distributed as rewards for a speedrun contest. In 2019, Morishita retired from the entertainment industry.
Yoshio Maki (牧 義夫, Maki Yoshio; born 14 January 1958) is a Japanese politician of the Constitutional Democratic Party…
Yoshio Maki (牧 義夫, Maki Yoshio; born 14 January 1958) is a Japanese politician of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ). He is a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Nagoya, Aichi and drop-out of Sophia University, he was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 2000. He was defeated in 2012 by Shōzō Kudō, but regained a proportional representation seat in 2014. He has held several positions on House of Representatives committees throughout his time in office, and served as Vice Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare from 2011 to 2012.
Yutaka Banno (伴野 豊, Banno Yutaka; born 1 January 1961) is a Japanese politician of the Constitutional Democratic Party…
Yutaka Banno (伴野 豊, Banno Yutaka; born 1 January 1961) is a Japanese politician of the Constitutional Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Nagoya, Aichi he attended Nagoya Institute of Technology both as undergraduate and graduate. Upon graduation, he joined Japanese National Railways in 1985 and JR Central in 1987 when Japanese National Railways was privatized. He left JR Central in 1994. In 2000 he was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time after an unsuccessful run in 1996.
Shoichi Kondo (近藤 昭一, Kondō Shōichi; born 26 May 1958) is a Japanese politician of the Constitutional Democratic Party…
Shoichi Kondo (近藤 昭一, Kondō Shōichi; born 26 May 1958) is a Japanese politician of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, and a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature).
Junji Suzuki (鈴木 淳司, Suzuki Junji; born 7 April 1958) is a former Japanese politician who served as the Minister for…
Junji Suzuki (鈴木 淳司, Suzuki Junji; born 7 April 1958) is a former Japanese politician who served as the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications in the Second Kishida Cabinet from September to December 2023. He also served in House of Representatives as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. A native of Seto, Aichi and graduate of Waseda University, he was elected for the first time in 2003 after an unsuccessful run in 2000. He was defeated in the 2009 election by DPJ candidate Shiori Yamao. He was then elected again in 2012 but lost his seat in 2024.
Kazuhiko Shigetoku (重徳 和彦, Shigetoku Kazuhiro; born 21 December 1970) is a Japanese politician who is a member of the…
Kazuhiko Shigetoku (重徳 和彦, Shigetoku Kazuhiro; born 21 December 1970) is a Japanese politician who is a member of the House of Representatives of Japan. He is the fourth chair of the Policy Research Council of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and concurrently serves as shadow Chief Cabinet Secretary alongside it. He is also the leader of the Direct Admonition Society, a faction in the CDP, and acts as representative of the CDP's Aichi Prefecture Federation.
Hiromichi Kumada is a Japanese politician who is serving as a member of the House of Representatives of Japan.
Imai Masato (今井 雅人, Imai Masato; born 21 February 1962) is a Japanese politician of the Constitutional Democratic…
Imai Masato (今井 雅人, Imai Masato; born 21 February 1962) is a Japanese politician of the Constitutional Democratic Party, who served as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Gero, Gifu he attended Sophia University as an undergraduate. Upon graduation, he joined Sanwa Bank in 1985 and worked in Chicago, Illinois for five years from 1989. He entered The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ in 2004 as a currency trader. In 2009 he was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time and has been subsequently re-elected in 2012, 2014 and 2017.
Soichiro Imaeda (今枝宗一郎, Imaeda Soichiro; born 18 February 1984) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the…
Soichiro Imaeda (今枝宗一郎, Imaeda Soichiro; born 18 February 1984) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the House of Representatives since 2012. He was the youngest member elected in the 2012 general election.
Yasumasa Nagasaka (長坂 康正, Nagasaka Yasumasa; born 10 April 1957) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic…
Yasumasa Nagasaka (長坂 康正, Nagasaka Yasumasa; born 10 April 1957) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who serves as a member of the House of Representatives.
Hideki Niwa (丹羽 秀樹, Niwa Hideki; born 20 December 1972) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)…
Hideki Niwa (丹羽 秀樹, Niwa Hideki; born 20 December 1972) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), who serves as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Kasugai, Aichi and graduate of Tamagawa University, he was elected for the first time in 2005 after an unsuccessful run in 2003. He was defeated in the 2009 election by DPJ candidate Yoshihiro Ishida but regained his seat in special elections in 2011.
Goshi Hosono (細野 豪志, Hosono Gōshi; born 21 August 1971) is a Japanese politician and a member of the House of…
Goshi Hosono (細野 豪志, Hosono Gōshi; born 21 August 1971) is a Japanese politician and a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Ōmihachiman, Shiga and graduate of Kyoto University, he was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 2000. He was the Minister of Environment and Minister of State for Nuclear Power Policy and Administration in the cabinet of Yoshihiko Noda. He represents the 5th District of Shizuoka prefecture.
Tetsuro Fukuyama (福山 哲郎, Fukuyama Tetsurō; born January 19, 1962) is a politician of the Constitutional Democratic…
Tetsuro Fukuyama (福山 哲郎, Fukuyama Tetsurō; born January 19, 1962) is a politician of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, a member of the Senate in the Diet (national legislature).
Yoshifu Arita (有田芳生, Arita Yoshifu; born 20 February 1952) is a Japanese writer, journalist and politician from the…
Yoshifu Arita (有田芳生, Arita Yoshifu; born 20 February 1952) is a Japanese writer, journalist and politician from the Constitutional Democratic Party, who is currently serving as a member of the House of Representatives. He previously served two terms as a member of the House of Councillors after being elected in 2010 and in 2016 and serving as Chair of the Special Committee on Political Ethics and Election System, but lost his seat in 2022. Before he was elected, he was a regular commentator of Nippon Television's The Wide. He is one of the most prominent anti-racism activists in Japan. He is also known for his investigations into religious groups such as Unification Church and Aum Shinri-kyo.
Mai Ohara (小原 舞, Ohara Mai; born 10 July 1974) is a Japanese politician who served in the House of Representatives of…
Mai Ohara (小原 舞, Ohara Mai; born 10 July 1974) is a Japanese politician who served in the House of Representatives of Japan.
Sayuri Uenishi (上西 小百合) (born April 30, 1983) is a Japanese politician and tarento. She served two terms in the House…
Sayuri Uenishi (上西 小百合) (born April 30, 1983) is a Japanese politician and tarento. She served two terms in the House of Representatives before being expelled from her party for skipping a Diet session, then getting caught in a couple of scandals.
Tamayo Marukawa (丸川 珠代, Marukawa Tamayo, born 19 January 1971) is a Japanese politician and former announcer of TV…
Tamayo Marukawa (丸川 珠代, Marukawa Tamayo, born 19 January 1971) is a Japanese politician and former announcer of TV Asahi, who served as a member of the House of Councillors from 2007 to 2024. She is a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. She served as the head of the Women's Affairs Office of the LDP in October 2009. She graduated from the University of Tokyo with the Bachelor of Economics degree in 1993. The 2007 House of Councillors election marked her entry into politics. The documentary film "Pictures at an Election" covers some of her campaign. She is married to Taku Otsuka (a member of the House of Representatives). Their wedding ceremony was held in Meiji Shrine on 16 June 2008. They have one child. Marukawa has served twice as Minister of State for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. She first served in the role under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe from August 2016 until August 2017. She was named to the post a second time by Yoshihide Suga on 18 February 2021 to replace fellow LDP lawmaker and former Olympian Seiko Hashimoto, who had resigned from her Cabinet post in order to take over as President of the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee. Marukawa stood as the LDP candidate for the Tokyo 7th district in the October 2024 House of Representatives election, intending to switch houses. She thus automatically lost her seat in the House of Councillors when the election was announced. Marukawa was defeated in the election. Marukawa again contested Tokyo 7th district in the 2026 general election and was elected. She was affiliated with the nationalist organisation Nippon Kaigi.
Hirofumi Yoshimura (吉村 洋文, Yoshimura Hirofumi; born 17 June 1975) is a Japanese politician currently serving as the…
Hirofumi Yoshimura (吉村 洋文, Yoshimura Hirofumi; born 17 June 1975) is a Japanese politician currently serving as the Leader of Japan Innovation Party since December 2024 and the governor of Osaka Prefecture since 2019. He has been described as a conservative.
Inoue Hidetaka (Japanese: 井上英孝) is a Japanese politician. He is a member of the House of Representatives representing…
Inoue Hidetaka (Japanese: 井上英孝) is a Japanese politician. He is a member of the House of Representatives representing the Osaka 1st district. A member of the Japan Innovation Party (日本維新の会, Nippon Ishin no Kai), he was first elected in the 2012 Japanese general election and has been reelected to six consecutive terms most recently in the 2026 Japanese general election.
Yoko Wanibuchi (鰐淵 洋子, Wanibuchi Yōko; born 10 April 1972) is a Japanese politician who served in the House of…
Yoko Wanibuchi (鰐淵 洋子, Wanibuchi Yōko; born 10 April 1972) is a Japanese politician who served in the House of Representatives from 2017 to 2026 as a member of the Komeito Party. She was previously served in the House of Councillors from 2004 to 2010.
Takeo Miki (三木 武夫, Miki Takeo; 17 March 1907 – 14 November 1988) was a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister…
Takeo Miki (三木 武夫, Miki Takeo; 17 March 1907 – 14 November 1988) was a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan from 1974 to 1976. A native of Tokushima Prefecture, Miki was educated at Meiji University and the University of Southern California. He was first elected to the National Diet in 1937, and after the war was leader of the National Cooperative Party, serving as communications minister from 1947 to 1948 under Tetsu Katayama. Miki later joined the Liberal Democratic Party and served as transportation minister under Ichirō Hatoyama, held posts in the cabinets of Nobusuke Kishi and Hayato Ikeda, and served as international trade and industry minister in 1965–1966 and foreign minister in 1966–1968 under Eisaku Satō. Miki became prime minister in 1974 upon the resignation of Kakuei Tanaka, who had faced allegations of corruption, but his attempts to pass anti-monopoly legislation and political funding laws failed amid opposition from within his party. Miki announced a "1 percent of GDP" guideline for defense spending, thus setting a precedent for the next two decades. The LDP was damaged by the Lockheed scandal in 1976, and lost its majority in the that year's election. Miki was embarrassed by this result, resigned as premier, and was succeeded by Takeo Fukuda.
Sanae Takaichi (高市 早苗, Takaichi Sanae; born 7 March 1961) is a Japanese politician who has been Prime Minister of Japan…
Sanae Takaichi (高市 早苗, Takaichi Sanae; born 7 March 1961) is a Japanese politician who has been Prime Minister of Japan and President of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) since October 2025. She is the first woman to hold either of these positions in Japanese history. A member of the House of Representatives from 1993 to 2003 and since 2005, she also held ministerial posts during the premierships of Shinzo Abe and Fumio Kishida. Born and raised in Tenri, Nara Prefecture, Takaichi graduated from Kobe University and worked as an author, legislative aide, and broadcaster before beginning her political career. Elected as an independent to the House of Representatives in the 1993 general election, she joined the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in 1996. A protégé of Prime Minister Abe, she held various positions during Abe's premiership, most notably as Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications. She was a candidate in the 2021 LDP leadership election, but was eliminated before the runoff, achieving third place. From 2022 to 2024, during Kishida's premiership, she served as the Minister of State for Economic Security. Takaichi made her second run for the party leadership in the 2024 leadership election, where she came in first in the first round but narrowly lost in a runoff to her predecessor Shigeru Ishiba. She ran for the third time in the 2025 leadership election and placed first in both rounds of voting, defeating Shinjirō Koizumi, and becoming the party's first female president. Following the end of the LDP–Komeito coalition, Takaichi secured a coalition agreement with the Japan Innovation Party, and was elected prime minister by the National Diet on 21 October. Early in her premiership, Takaichi faced a diplomatic crisis with China after a statement she made regarding Japan's involvement regarding a potential Chinese attack on Taiwan and subsequent threatening remarks by a Chinese diplomat. In 2026, she called a snap general election, which resulted in a historic landslide victory for the LDP, securing a two-thirds supermajority and the largest number of seats ever won in postwar Japanese electoral history. During her tenure, Takaichi has overseen amendments to the Imperial Household Law which kept the prohibition on female successors to the emperor, passing of a law that prohibits the desecration of the Japanese flag, lifting the Japanese arms-export ban, as well as the creation of the National Intelligence Bureau. Takaichi's views have been variously described as conservative or ultraconservative. Her domestic policy includes support for proactive government spending and continuing Abenomics. She has taken conservative positions on social issues, such as opposing same-sex marriage, recognition of separate surnames for spouses, and female succession to the Japanese throne. Takaichi supports revising Article 9 of the Constitution of Japan – which renounces the use of military force – has a pro-Taiwanese foreign policy, and supports strengthening the US–Japan alliance. A member of the far-right Nippon Kaigi, she has been described as holding revisionist views of Japan's conduct during the Second World War, and criticised the Murayama and Kono Statements which apologised for Japanese war crimes. She made regular visits to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine prior to her premiership. Since her election as prime minister, Takaichi has been described as one of the most powerful women in the world and she states her goal is to become Japan's "Iron Lady".
Masatoshi Ishida (石田 真敏, Ishida Masatoshi; born 11 April 1952) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party…
Masatoshi Ishida (石田 真敏, Ishida Masatoshi; born 11 April 1952) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party and a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). He served as the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications from 2 October 2018 to 11 September 2019. A native of Kainan, Wakayama and graduate of Waseda University, he was elected to the first of his three terms in the Wakayama Prefectural Assembly in 1983 and then to the first of his two terms as mayor of Kainan in 1994. He was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 2002.
Kenji Eda (江田 憲司, Eda Kenji; born 28 April 1956) is a retired Japanese politician who was a member of the House of…
Kenji Eda (江田 憲司, Eda Kenji; born 28 April 1956) is a retired Japanese politician who was a member of the House of Representatives from 2002 to 2003 and again from 2005 to 2026.
Katsuyuki Kawai (河井 克行, Kawai Katsuyuki; born 11 March 1963) is a Japanese former politician of the Liberal Democratic…
Katsuyuki Kawai (河井 克行, Kawai Katsuyuki; born 11 March 1963) is a Japanese former politician of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Hiroshima, Hiroshima and graduate of Keio University, he ran unsuccessfully for the House of Representatives in 1993 after serving in the assembly of Hiroshima Prefecture. After losing his seat in 2000, he was re-elected in 2003 and continued to serve multiple terms. In 2006, he was appointed as Director, National Defence Division of the LDP, and in 2021, he was selected as Chairperson of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee. In 2015, Kawai was appointed as Special Advisor to the Prime Minister during the Third Abe Cabinet’s first and second reshuffles. He was re-elected to the House of Representatives for a seventh term in 2017 and subsequently appointed as Special Advisor to LDP President Shinzo Abe for Foreign Affairs. In 2019, in the Fourth Abe Cabinet’s second reshuffle. He became Minister of Justice from 11 September 2019 to 31 October 2019. He stepped down as the Minister of Justice after reports of overpaying workers of Anri Kawai's political campaign beyond the legal limit. On 16 June 2020, he and his wife, Anri Kawai, left the Liberal Democratic Party among allegations of buying votes to aid Anri Kawai's campaign for the House of Councilors. They were later arrested by public prosecutors on 19 June 2020, on charges for vote-buying and distributing around 25 million yen to 100 prefectural and city assembly members in Hiroshima in violation of the Public Office Elections Law. In April 2021, Kawai resigned his position as Representative. On 18 June 2021, Kawai was sentenced to three years in prison and a fine of 1.3 million yen ($12,000) for vote buying. In a subsequent development, Japan's Supreme Public Prosecutors Office admitted to conducting improper investigations in the case. According to a report by the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, a Tokyo prosecutor may have suggested to a former Hiroshima city assembly member that they could avoid indictment or receive a lighter penalty, despite not making an explicit promise. Additionally, another prosecutor was suspected of influencing the former assembly member's court testimony to align with the content of interrogation reports.
Hideo Hiraoka (平岡 秀夫, Hiraoka Hideo; born 14 January 1954) is a Japanese politician and lawyer in the House of…
Hideo Hiraoka (平岡 秀夫, Hiraoka Hideo; born 14 January 1954) is a Japanese politician and lawyer in the House of Representatives who served as the Minister of Justice from 2011 to 2012. He is a member of the Constitutional Democratic Party, having previously being a member of the Democratic Party of Japan. As a representative, he has represented the 2nd District of Yamaguchi prefecture and the Chūgoku proportional representation block.
Tsugumasa Muraoka (Japanese: 村岡 嗣政, Hepburn: Muraoka Tsugumasa; born December 7, 1972) is a Japanese politician who has…
Tsugumasa Muraoka (Japanese: 村岡 嗣政, Hepburn: Muraoka Tsugumasa; born December 7, 1972) is a Japanese politician who has been governor of Yamaguchi Prefecture since 2014.
Yoichi Shiraishi is a Japanese politician who served as a member of the House of Representatives of Japan.
Yoshinori Suematsu (末松 義規, Suematsu Yoshinori; born 5 December 1956) is a Japanese politician of the Constitutional…
Yoshinori Suematsu (末松 義規, Suematsu Yoshinori; born 5 December 1956) is a Japanese politician of the Constitutional Democratic Party, who served as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature).
Kuniyoshi Noda is a Japanese politician who is a member of the House of Councillors of Japan. Noda was part of the…
Kuniyoshi Noda is a Japanese politician who is a member of the House of Councillors of Japan. Noda was part of the CDP's shadow cabinet 'Next Cabinet' as the shadow Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications.