Takashi Endo (遠藤敬, Endo Takashi; born 6 June 1968) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the House of…Takashi Endo (遠藤敬, Endo Takashi; born 6 June 1968) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the House of Representatives since 2012. He has served as Chairman of the National Security Committee since 2024.
Shigeki Iwai (岩井 茂樹, Iwai Shigeki, born 2 June 1968) is a Japanese politician who has served as mayor of Higashiizu in…Shigeki Iwai (岩井 茂樹, Iwai Shigeki, born 2 June 1968) is a Japanese politician who has served as mayor of Higashiizu in Shizuoka Prefecture since 2022. He previously served as a member of the House of Councillors from 2010 to 2021, representing the Shizuoka at-large district as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party.
Tadashi Shimizu (清水 忠史, Shimizu Tadashi) is a member of the Japanese Communist Party who served in the House of…Tadashi Shimizu (清水 忠史, Shimizu Tadashi) is a member of the Japanese Communist Party who served in the House of Representatives. He is against the passed anti-conspiracy bill. He is also against paying welfare benefits with pre-paid credit cards, saying that it would only benefit credit card companies.
Akiko Ikuina (生稲 晃子, Ikuina Akiko; born April 28, 1968 in Tokyo) is a Japanese singer, actress, tarento, and…Akiko Ikuina (生稲 晃子, Ikuina Akiko; born April 28, 1968 in Tokyo) is a Japanese singer, actress, tarento, and politician. She joined the Japanese pop idol group Onyanko Club in 1986.
Takeyuki Watanabe (born April 18, 1968, in Gifu Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member…Takeyuki Watanabe (born April 18, 1968, in Gifu Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the House of Councillors of Japan since 2010. He represents the Gifu at-large district and is a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. He is one of three State Ministers for Reconstruction in the Second Kishida Cabinet.
Ryota Takeda (武田 良太, Takeda Ryōta; born 1 April 1968) is a Japanese politician who served as the Minister of Internal…Ryota Takeda (武田 良太, Takeda Ryōta; born 1 April 1968) is a Japanese politician who served as the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications from September 2020 to October 2021. A member of the Liberal Democratic Party, he previously served as the Minister in Charge of Public Safety, Measures for National Land Strengthening and Disaster Management.
Kenji Tamura (田村 謙治, Tamura Kenji; born 19 March 1968) is a former Japanese politician who served in the House of…Kenji Tamura (田村 謙治, Tamura Kenji; born 19 March 1968) is a former Japanese politician who served in the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature) as a member of the Democratic Party of Japan. A native of Shizuoka, Shizuoka and graduate of the University of Tokyo, he worked at the Ministry of Finance from 1991 to 2002 and attended the Ford School at the University of Michigan in 1993. He was elected for the first time in 2004 after an unsuccessful run in 2003. He is an assenter of the movie The Truth about Nanjing.
Kuniyoshi Azuma (東 国幹, Kuniyoshi Azuma; born 17 February 1968) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic…Kuniyoshi Azuma (東 国幹, Kuniyoshi Azuma; born 17 February 1968) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who serves as a member of the House of Representatives.
Aya Kamikawa (上川 あや, Kamikawa Aya; born January 25, 1968) is a Tokyo municipal official. With her election in April…Aya Kamikawa (上川 あや, Kamikawa Aya; born January 25, 1968) is a Tokyo municipal official. With her election in April 2003, she became the first openly transgender person to seek or win elected office in Japan.
Takae Itō (born January 13, 1968, in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of…Takae Itō (born January 13, 1968, in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the House of Councillors of Japan since 2016. She represents the Hyogo at-large district and is a member of the Komeito party.
Sakura Uchikoshi (born Sakura Muraki on January 6, 1968, in Hokkaido, Japan) is a Japanese politician who has served as…Sakura Uchikoshi (born Sakura Muraki on January 6, 1968, in Hokkaido, Japan) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the House of Councillors of Japan since 2019. She represents the Niigata at-large district and is a member of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan. She is a member of the following committees (as of 2021): Committee on Health, Welfare and Labour Committee on Budget Special Committee on North Korean Abduction Issue and Related Matters Commission on the Constitution
Renhō Saitō (斉藤 蓮舫, Saitō Renhō; née Hsieh (謝), formerly Murata (村田); born 28 November 1967), known mononymously as…Renhō Saitō (斉藤 蓮舫, Saitō Renhō; née Hsieh (謝), formerly Murata (村田); born 28 November 1967), known mononymously as Renhō, is a Japanese politician and former journalist who has served as a member of the House of Councillors from 2004 to 2024, and again since 2025. She was the leader of the now-defunct major opposition party, the Democratic Party from 2016 to 2017. Renhō was a candidate for the 2024 Tokyo gubernatorial election with the support of the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP), Japanese Communist Party (JCP), and the Social Democratic Party (SDP), but was defeated by incumbent Yuriko Koike, placing third behind Shinji Ishimaru.
Hong Ihk-pyo (Korean: 홍익표; born 20 November 1967) is a South Korean academic and politician in the liberal Minjoo Party…Hong Ihk-pyo (Korean: 홍익표; born 20 November 1967) is a South Korean academic and politician in the liberal Minjoo Party of Korea. Since 2012 he has been Member of the National Assembly for Seongdong, Seoul. He is considered a member of the party's pro–Roh Moo-hyun faction. Hong attracted attention in July 2013 as a spokesman for the Minjoo Party's predecessor, the Democratic Party, when he described President Park Geun-hye as a gwitae (귀태; 鬼胎), literally a "baby born to a ghost or demon or the Devil" or "ghost fetus or demon fetus", an uncommon term that has been applied in an abstract sense to Japanese militarism. A presidential spokesman stated that the label was "verbal abuse and a slur" and questioned Hong's "qualification as a lawmaker". Hong was forced to resign as party spokesman following the remark. Before becoming a National Assembly member, Hong was a professor at the University of North Korean Studies. He previously worked as an advisor in the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy, and later in the Economic Research Institute for Northeast Asia from 2005 to 2006 in Japan and as senior policy advisor in the Ministry of Unification from 2007 to 2008.
Emiko Uematsu (植松 恵美子, Uematsu Emiko; born November 13, 1967) is a former Japanese politician in the Democratic Party…Emiko Uematsu (植松 恵美子, Uematsu Emiko; born November 13, 1967) is a former Japanese politician in the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), who served as a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Takamatsu, Kagawa and graduate of Kobe University, she ran unsuccessfully for the House of Councillors in 2004. She ran again in 2007 and was elected for the first time. She left the DPJ in 2013 because of a difference of political policy.
Yuichiro Koga (古賀友一郎, Koga Yuichiro; born 2 November 1967) is a Japanese politician serving as state minister of…Yuichiro Koga (古賀友一郎, Koga Yuichiro; born 2 November 1967) is a Japanese politician serving as state minister of economy, trade and industry and state minister of the Cabinet Office since 2024. He has been a member of the House of Councillors since 2013.
Ken Hirata (平田 研, Hirata Ken; born 20 October 1967) is a Japanese politician elected as the governor of Nagasaki…Ken Hirata (平田 研, Hirata Ken; born 20 October 1967) is a Japanese politician elected as the governor of Nagasaki Prefecture in the 2026 Nagasaki gubernatorial election.
Mari Kushibuchi (櫛渕 万里, Kushibuchi Mari; born 15 October 1967) is a Japanese politician. Kushibuchi sailed on the Peace…Mari Kushibuchi (櫛渕 万里, Kushibuchi Mari; born 15 October 1967) is a Japanese politician. Kushibuchi sailed on the Peace Boat for the first time in 1990, and later joined the associated nongovernmental organization as an executive. In 2009, she contested her first House of Representatives election and won Tokyo's 23rd district for the Democratic Party of Japan. She succeeded incumbent Kōsuke Itō. Kushibuchi lost her 2012 reelection bid to Masanobu Ogura. Following the 2022 resignation of Tarō Yamamoto, Kushibuchi returned to the House of Representatives via proportional representation, this time as a member of Reiwa Shinsengumi. On 1 June 2023, she was suspended from participating in the Diet for 10 days for "irregular behavior" in the lower chamber, which involved holding up a sheet of paper calling the no-confidence motion against Finance Minister Shun'ichi Suzuki a farce, while standing on the rostrum. In the 2026 Japanese general election for the House of Representatives, held on February 8, 2026, Kushibuchi ran in Tokyo 14th district but lost. Following her defeat, she stepped down as co-leader of the party and assumed the role of deputy secretary-general. On 9 July 2026, alongside Taro Yamamoto's resignation as party leader of Reiwa Shinsengumi, Kushibuchi also left the party.
Hiroto Wakita (脇田 洋人, Wakita Hiroto; born September 22, 1967) is a Japanese professional wrestler and politician who…Hiroto Wakita (脇田 洋人, Wakita Hiroto; born September 22, 1967) is a Japanese professional wrestler and politician who currently runs and wrestles for Kaisen Puroresu. He is better known by his stage name Super Delfin (スペル・デルフィン, Superu Derufin). He has been a member of the Izumi City Council since 2012.
Masanao Ozaki (尾崎 正直, Ozaki Masanao; born 14 September 1967 in Kōchi, Kōchi) is a Japanese politician who has been…Masanao Ozaki (尾崎 正直, Ozaki Masanao; born 14 September 1967 in Kōchi, Kōchi) is a Japanese politician who has been serving as a member of the House of Representatives since 2021.
Ryuichi Yoneyama (米山 隆一, Yoneyama Ryūichi; born 8 September 1967) is a Japanese politician and a former Governor of…Ryuichi Yoneyama (米山 隆一, Yoneyama Ryūichi; born 8 September 1967) is a Japanese politician and a former Governor of Niigata Prefecture. Prior to entering politics, Yoneyama worked as a radiology researcher at the University of Tokyo Hospital and was also trained as a lawyer.
Ryuichi Yoneyama (米山 隆一, Yoneyama Ryūichi; born 8 September 1967) is a Japanese politician and a former Governor of…Ryuichi Yoneyama (米山 隆一, Yoneyama Ryūichi; born 8 September 1967) is a Japanese politician and a former Governor of Niigata Prefecture. Prior to entering politics, Yoneyama worked as a radiology researcher at the University of Tokyo Hospital and was also trained as a lawyer.
Katsuhito Noshi (野志 克仁, Noshi Katsuhito; born 31 July 1967) is a Japanese politician and the current mayor of…Katsuhito Noshi (野志 克仁, Noshi Katsuhito; born 31 July 1967) is a Japanese politician and the current mayor of Matsuyama, the capital city of Ehime Prefecture, Japan.
Yuichiro Hata (羽田 雄一郎, Hata Yūichirō; 29 July 1967 – 27 December 2020) was a Japanese politician of the Constitutional…Yuichiro Hata (羽田 雄一郎, Hata Yūichirō; 29 July 1967 – 27 December 2020) was a Japanese politician of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet of Japan. A native of Setagaya, Tokyo, and graduate of Tamagawa University, he was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 1999, a position he retained until his death in 2020. Hata was the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism from 4 June 2012 to 26 December 2012. He was the son of the late Prime Minister Tsutomu Hata.
Takashi Morita (森田 高, Morita Takashi; born July 22, 1967) is a Japanese politician of People's New Party, an…Takashi Morita (森田 高, Morita Takashi; born July 22, 1967) is a Japanese politician of People's New Party, an independent and member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature).
Satoshi Ōie (born July 17, 1967, in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of…Satoshi Ōie (born July 17, 1967, in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the House of Councillors of Japan since 2010. He represents the Fukuoka at-large district as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. He has directed the House's Committee on Financial Affairs since 2016.
Shiro Suzuki (鈴木 史朗, born July 16, 1967) is a Japanese politician serving as the mayor of Nagasaki, the capital city of…Shiro Suzuki (鈴木 史朗, born July 16, 1967) is a Japanese politician serving as the mayor of Nagasaki, the capital city of Nagasaki Prefecture.
Kōzō Akino is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the House of Councillors of Japan, since 2010. He…Kōzō Akino is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the House of Councillors of Japan, since 2010. He represents the National proportional representation block as a member of the Komeito party. He currently serves on the following committees: Committee on Financial Affairs (Director) Committee on Discipline Special Committee on Okinawa and Northern Problems Deliberative Council on Political Ethics
Yoshitaka Nakayama (中山義隆, Nakayama Yoshitaka) is a Japanese politician and the current mayor of Ishigaki. Nakayama was…Yoshitaka Nakayama (中山義隆, Nakayama Yoshitaka) is a Japanese politician and the current mayor of Ishigaki. Nakayama was re-elected in 2022, with endorsements by the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito. In 2020, Nakayama passed a bill changing the name of Tonoshiro (a locale in Ishigaki) to “Tonoshiro Senkaku”, as the Senkaku Islands are a de facto part of Tonoshiro in an administrative sense. This was immediately condemned by both China and Taiwan, who also claim sovereignty over the Senkaku Islands (also known as Diaoyu Islands). In June 2025, the Ishigaki Council found that some health insurance budget was not discussed via the council, and Nakayama declared false statements to the council. Public distrust of Nakayama started to arise. On June 18, the Ishigaki Council passed a motion of no confidence against the Nakayama cabinet. On 29 June, Nakayama agreed to resign, stating that dissoluting the parliament didn't make sense.
Yasuhiro Sonoda (園田 康博, Sonoda Yasuhiro; born 9 June 1967) is a former Japanese politician who served in the House of…Yasuhiro Sonoda (園田 康博, Sonoda Yasuhiro; born 9 June 1967) is a former Japanese politician who served in the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature) as a member of the Democratic Party of Japan.
Kōtarō Nogami (born 20 May 1967) is a Japanese politician who served as the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and…Kōtarō Nogami (born 20 May 1967) is a Japanese politician who served as the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries from September 2020 to October 2021. He previously served as Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary from 2016 to 2019, and is also a member of the House of Councilors of Japan, winning his first election in 2001. Nogami served in the House of Councilors for Toyama from 2001 to 2007, serving one term. After losing re-election, he ran again in 2010 and successfully won the seat. In 2013, he was named State Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and served in that position for a year. In 2016, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appointed him as Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary, and he served in that position until 2019.
Masahiro Ishida (born May 20, 1967, in Nara Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of…Masahiro Ishida (born May 20, 1967, in Nara Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the House of Councillors of Japan since 2013. He represents the National proportional representation block and is a member of the Liberal Democratic Party.
Taro Yamada (山田 太郎, Yamada Tarō; born May 12, 1967) is a Japanese politician and a member of the House of Councillors…Taro Yamada (山田 太郎, Yamada Tarō; born May 12, 1967) is a Japanese politician and a member of the House of Councillors for the Liberal Democratic Party. He is known as a defender of freedom of expression in manga and anime, and has promoted policies to exempt sexual depictions of fictional characters from legal restrictions. He is an honorary advisor at Association for Freedom of Entertainment Expression. Taro Yamada was born in Ōta, Tokyo, and began his career as a businessman. After becoming a politician as a member of the Diet for the Your Party in 2012, he lost an election. In 2019 he became a member of the House of Councillors for the Liberal Democratic Party. In the first and second Kishida Cabinets, he served as Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Digital Affairs and Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. During his tenure, he pushed for the inclusion of paragraph 3 in Article 14 of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime to decriminalize manga and anime, and visited Visa headquarters to end financial censorship.
Kazuya Shimba (榛葉 賀津也, Shinba Kazuya; born 25 April 1967) is a Japanese politician, the general-secretary of the…Kazuya Shimba (榛葉 賀津也, Shinba Kazuya; born 25 April 1967) is a Japanese politician, the general-secretary of the Democratic Party for the People (DPP). He is serving as a member of the House of Councillors. Known as Yuichiro Tamaki's right-hand man, he played a key role in the DPP's surge
Mio Sugita (Japanese: 杉田 水脈, Hepburn: Sugita Mio; born 22 April 1967) is a Japanese politician and member of the…Mio Sugita (Japanese: 杉田 水脈, Hepburn: Sugita Mio; born 22 April 1967) is a Japanese politician and member of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan. She served in the House of Representatives from 2012 to 2014, and again from 2017 to 2024. Sugita has faced criticism for her statements and views, including comments regarding gender diversity and LGBT issues as well as Ainu and Korean individuals. She stated on a livestream in 2015 that the LGBT community should not receive support from taxpayer money, and repeated her claim in a monthly magazine piece in 2018. The Kishida cabinet appointed her Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications in August 2022. She has since resigned from this position, because, according to Kishida, she had no intention of retracting some of her statements and to avoid disrupting administrative affairs. When interviewed, Sugita insisted that she had never dismissed diversity and had not discriminated against sexual minorities. In December 2022, at the request of minister Takeaki Matsumoto, Sugita retracted and apologized for her past remarks regarding minorities, saying that they had "lacked consideration."
Daichi Suzuki (鈴木 大地, Suzuki Daichi; born 10 March 1967, in Narashino, Chiba) is a Japanese politician and retired…Daichi Suzuki (鈴木 大地, Suzuki Daichi; born 10 March 1967, in Narashino, Chiba) is a Japanese politician and retired backstroke swimmer. He won a gold medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.
Tatsuo Fukuda (福田達夫, Fukuda Tatsuo; born 5 March 1967) is a Japanese politician who currently serves as chairman of the…Tatsuo Fukuda (福田達夫, Fukuda Tatsuo; born 5 March 1967) is a Japanese politician who currently serves as chairman of the General Council of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. He also serves as a member of the House of Representatives for the Liberal Democratic Party. He is the son of former Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and grandson of former Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda.
Masaaki Taira (平 将明, Taira Masaaki; born 21 February 1967) is a Japanese politician who is a member of the House of…Masaaki Taira (平 将明, Taira Masaaki; born 21 February 1967) is a Japanese politician who is a member of the House of Representatives since 2005.
Yōsuke Tsuruho (鶴保 庸介, Tsuruho Yōsuke; born February 5, 1967) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party…Yōsuke Tsuruho (鶴保 庸介, Tsuruho Yōsuke; born February 5, 1967) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Osaka and graduate of the University of Tokyo, he was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 1998 after running unsuccessfully for the House of Representatives in 1996. He subsequently won two elections for the Japan House of Councilors, Wakayama Prefecture in 2004 and 2010 with 53.83% and 56.79% of the votes respectively. In 2025, Tsuruho apologized following criticism over his description of the 2024 Noto earthquake as a "fortunate" event that showed how improvements can be made in public services. As a consequence, Tsuhoro lost his position as the chairman of the budget committee in the House of Councillors.
Keiro Kitagami (北神 圭朗, Kitagami Keirō; born 1 February 1967) is a Japanese politician who is serving as a member of the…Keiro Kitagami (北神 圭朗, Kitagami Keirō; born 1 February 1967) is a Japanese politician who is serving as a member of the House of Representatives in the National Diet. A native of Tokyo, Kitagami studied abroad at Servite High School in Anaheim, California, and is graduate of Kyoto University. He joined the Ministry of Finance early in his career. After leaving the ministry, he was elected for the first time in 2005. In 2004, Kitagami was honored as an Inamori Fellow by the Inamori Foundation and in 2007 as a Young Global Leader at the World Economic Forum (Davos Forum). Kitagami was appointed as Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry by Yoshihiko Noda in 2011, and served as Special Advisor to the Prime Minister during the Noda Cabinet in 2012.
Tatsuya Tanimoto (谷本 龍哉, Tanimoto Tatsuya; born 26 October 1966) is a former Japanese member of the House of…Tatsuya Tanimoto (谷本 龍哉, Tanimoto Tatsuya; born 26 October 1966) is a former Japanese member of the House of Representatives of the Diet. He served as a representative of Wakayama 1st district, first as an independent politician, but after 2003 as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. A native of Wakayama City and graduate of the University of Tokyo, he was elected for the first time in 2000 after working as a bartender and an aide to Representative Toshihiro Nikai, and serving in the Wakayama Prefectural Assembly.
Naoki Kazama (風間 直樹, Kazama Naoki; born 22 October 1966) is a Japanese politician of the Constitutional Democratic…Naoki Kazama (風間 直樹, Kazama Naoki; born 22 October 1966) is a Japanese politician of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Myōkō, Niigata and graduate of Keio University, he had served in the assembly of Niigata Prefecture between 1999 and 2003. He was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 2007.
Jun Tsushima (Japanese: 津島 淳, Hepburn: Tsushima Jun; born 18 October 1966) is a Japanese politician affiliated with the…Jun Tsushima (Japanese: 津島 淳, Hepburn: Tsushima Jun; born 18 October 1966) is a Japanese politician affiliated with the Liberal Democratic Party. He is a member of House of Representatives of Japan from Aomori Prefecture since 16 December 2012. He previously served as Vice-Minister of Land, Transport, Infrastructure and Tourism and also served as Vice-Minister of Cabinet Office in Third Abe Cabinet. Tsushima's grandfather Osamu Dazai was a novelist and his father Yuji Tsushima was the member of House of Representatives (Japan), Minister of Health and Welfare and member of Liberal Democratic Party. His aunt Yūko Tsushima was a novelist like her father. His cousin Kyōichi Tsushima was a member of Democratic Party and member of House of Representatives of Japan from Tohoku Proportional District from 2009 to 2012
Takeshi Shina (階 猛, Shina Takeshi; born 7 October 1966) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the…Takeshi Shina (階 猛, Shina Takeshi; born 7 October 1966) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the House of Representatives since 2007. A 1991 graduate of the University of Tokyo, he was elected for the first time in 2007. Shina was born and grew up in Morioka, Iwate before attending the University of Tokyo. After he graduated, he became a banker at both the Long-Term Credit Bank of Japan and the SBI Shinsei Bank. Shina first ran for office in a 2007 by-election following the resignation of his High School and University senior, Takuya Tasso, in Iwate's 1st district. He won in 2009 and was tapped to become a Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications, and served through the Kan Cabinet. Following his vote against the consumption tax raise launched by the Noda Cabinet, he was suspended by the DPJ for two months but declined to leave the party, and won in 2012 despite facing a candidate handpicked by Ichiro Ozawa to defeat him, and the strong national headwinds in favor of the LDP. Following the defeat, Shina was shuffled throughout various DPJ party positions, serving as a shadow minister in the NEXT Cabinets of varying leaders. He won in 2014 again and merged with the DP in merging with Kibō no Tō, holding onto his district in 2017. He joined the DPP before leaving the party following the Iwate's branch decision to endorse a candidate from Ichiro Ozawa's Liberal Party. He joined the CDP shortly thereafter and fought attempts by the Prefectural Branch controlled by Ozawa to replace him as the candidate in Iwate's 1st, winning in 2021. He was appointed the Shadow Minister of Finance in the Next Cabinet's of Kenta Izumi and Yoshihiko Noda until September 2025. He won his district in 2026 after joining the CRA, becoming one of the "seven samurai" to do so. He ran for party president in the 2026 CRA election, losing to Junya Ogawa by five votes. He was then appointed secretary-general of the CRA.
Masaaki Koike (小池 正昭, Koike Masaaki; born 18 September 1966) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party…Masaaki Koike (小池 正昭, Koike Masaaki; born 18 September 1966) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who serves as a member of the House of Representatives.
Shinpei Matsushita (松下 新平, Matsushita Shinpei; born August 18, 1966) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic…Shinpei Matsushita (松下 新平, Matsushita Shinpei; born August 18, 1966) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, and a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature).