Ichikawa Fusae (市川 房枝; May 15, 1893 – February 11, 1981) was a Japanese feminist, politician and a leader of the…Ichikawa Fusae (市川 房枝; May 15, 1893 – February 11, 1981) was a Japanese feminist, politician and a leader of the women's suffrage movement. Ichikawa was a key supporter of women's suffrage in Japan, and her activism was partially responsible for the extension of the franchise to women in 1945.
Mosaburō Suzuki (鈴木 茂三郎, Suzuki Mosaburō; February 7, 1893 – May 7, 1970) was a Japanese journalist, essayist, and…Mosaburō Suzuki (鈴木 茂三郎, Suzuki Mosaburō; February 7, 1893 – May 7, 1970) was a Japanese journalist, essayist, and socialist politician who served nine terms in the House of Representatives. He was the first chairman of the Left Socialist Party of Japan (1951–1955) and later the second chairman of the reunified Japan Socialist Party (1955–1960). Born into poverty in Gamagōri, Aichi, Suzuki worked various odd jobs before graduating from Waseda University in 1916. As a newspaper reporter he covered the Siberian Intervention, an experience that reinforced his lifelong opposition to militarism. In the interwar period he became a leading figure in the proletarian movement, joined the newly founded Japanese Communist Party in 1922, helped organize several left-wing parties, and was repeatedly arrested under the Peace Preservation Law, including during the Popular Front Incident of 1937. He spent the war years in prison without trial. After Japan's surrender, he helped found the Japan Socialist Party. He was elected to the Diet in 1946 and became party secretary in 1949. When the party split over the San Francisco Peace Treaty in 1951, he became the first chairman of the Left Socialist Party. In his inaugural speech as its chairman he delivered the widely quoted pacifist appeal "Young men, do not take up arms. Women, do not send your husbands and children to the battlefield." After the socialists reunited in 1955 he served as chairman of the unified JSP until his resignation in 1960 following the formation of the Democratic Socialist Party. In later years he continued to push the party leftward, opposed structural-reform theories, and established a socialist library that was later donated to the Museum of Modern Japanese Literature. He retired from electoral politics before the 1967 election and died in Tokyo in 1970.
Kanjū Katō (加藤 勘十 (Katō Kanjū), 25 February 1892 – 27 September 1978), also known as Kanju Kato, was a Japanese…Kanjū Katō (加藤 勘十 (Katō Kanjū), 25 February 1892 – 27 September 1978), also known as Kanju Kato, was a Japanese politician and labour activist of the Shōwa period. He served seven terms as a member of the House of Representatives for the Japan Socialist Party and was the second Minister of Labor. He was also known by the pen names Hekisui and Sotsu. A militant labour organizer active in the prewar period, he was nicknamed "Fireball Kanjū" (火の玉勘十, Hi no tama Kanjū). His elder brother was Chōichi Katō, a member of the House of Representatives for the Constitutional Democratic Party (Rikken Minseitō) and the National Alliance (Kokumin Dōmei). His wife was the women’s rights activist and politician Shidzue Katō; the couple were known as the "mandarin duck Diet members" (おしどり議員, oshidori giin). Their son was Nobuyuki Katō and their daughter was Taki Katō.
Tokujiro Kanamori (金森 徳次郎, Kanamori Tokujirō; 17 March 1886 – 16 June 1959) was a Japanese politician. He was a major…Tokujiro Kanamori (金森 徳次郎, Kanamori Tokujirō; 17 March 1886 – 16 June 1959) was a Japanese politician. He was a major figure in the implementation of the postwar Japanese Constitution. Kanamori was born in 1886 in Aichi Prefecture. He graduated from Tokyo University in 1912 with a degree in Law, and started work for the Ministry of Finance. In 1924, he was appointed as Director of the new Cabinet Legislation Bureau (the first person to hold this post) and he subsequently became Director-General of the Bureau a decade later. He was, however, pressured into resigning only two years later, due to sympathies with the controversial "Emperor Organ" theory proposed by Tatsukichi Minobe. Nevertheless, he remained a respected constitutional scholar, who had published several books on the Meiji Constitution. He was consulted on the wording of the new constitution by Toshio Irie. His election to the House of Peers in 1946 marked the start of his return to politics. He was elected as Minister of State in the first cabinet of Shigeru Yoshida, and in this capacity argued forcefully in favour of the new postwar constitution. In the course of 114 days of debate, Kanamori responded to over a thousand questions, with extensive responses that took up to one and a half hours. After the implementation of the new legislation, Kanamori helped to form the Kenpō Fukyū Kai (Constitution Popularization Society) in December 1946, and published books and tracts to spread awareness of the new laws throughout the population. In 1948 he became the first librarian of the National Diet Library, a post he held until his death in 1959.
Baron Mineo Ōsumi (大角 岑生, Ōsumi Mineo; 1 May 1876 – 5 February 1941) was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy and…Baron Mineo Ōsumi (大角 岑生, Ōsumi Mineo; 1 May 1876 – 5 February 1941) was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy and served twice as Minister of the Navy of Japan during the volatile 1930s.
Shiga Shigetaka (志賀 重昂; 15 September 1863 – 6 April 1927) was the editor of the magazine Nihonjin during the Meiji…Shiga Shigetaka (志賀 重昂; 15 September 1863 – 6 April 1927) was the editor of the magazine Nihonjin during the Meiji period, in which he argued against extreme Westernization (Japanese: 欧化主義).
Count Katō Takaaki (Japanese: 加藤 高明, Kyujitai: 加藤󠄁 高明󠄁; born Hattori Sōkichi [服部 総吉]; 3 January 1860 – 28 January…Count Katō Takaaki (Japanese: 加藤 高明, Kyujitai: 加藤󠄁 高明󠄁; born Hattori Sōkichi [服部 総吉]; 3 January 1860 – 28 January 1926), also known as Katō Kōmei, was a Japanese politician, diplomat, and Prime Minister of Japan from 1924 until his death on 28 January 1926, during the period which historians have called "Taishō Democracy". As Minister for Foreign Affairs, he negotiated the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, and presented China with the Twenty-One Demands, which demanded greater Japanese control of China. He was a key figure in the campaign for universal male suffrage in Japan. He has been characterized as a liberal.
Taku Ishii (石井 拓, Ishii Taku; born 11 April 1965) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party who has…Taku Ishii (石井 拓, Ishii Taku; born 11 April 1965) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party who has served as a member of the House of Representatives for Aichi 13th district since 2026. He previously served in the House of Representatives from 2021 to 2024 through the Tōkai proportional representation block, and before entering national politics he served as a member of the Aichi Prefectural Assembly and the Hekinan City Council.
Shinji Wakayama (若山 慎司, Wakayama Shinji; born 15 July 1973) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party…Shinji Wakayama (若山 慎司, Wakayama Shinji; born 15 July 1973) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who serves as a member of the House of Representatives.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Shōzō Kudō (工藤 彰三, Kudō Shōzō; born 8 December 1964) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who…Shōzō Kudō (工藤 彰三, Kudō Shōzō; born 8 December 1964) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who serves as a member of the House of Representatives.
