Kentaro Sonoura (薗浦 健太郎, Sonoura Kentarō; born 3 June 1972) is a former Japanese politician who served in the House of…
Kentaro Sonoura (薗浦 健太郎, Sonoura Kentarō; born 3 June 1972) is a former Japanese politician who served in the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). He represented the 5th District of Chiba prefecture as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. A native of Takamatsu, Kagawa and graduate of the University of Tokyo, he worked as a reporter for the Yomiuri Shimbun and as an aide to Taro Aso. Sonoura was elected for the first time in the 2005 general election after an unsuccessful run in 2003. Sonoura resigned from office on 21 December 2022 and was shortly afterwards convicted of violating the Political Fund Control Law.
Famous People from Kagawa Prefecture
Kagawa Prefecture: 28 people
Junya Ogawa (Japanese: 小川 淳也, Hepburn: Ogawa Jun'ya; born 18 April 1971) is a Japanese politician who has been the…
Junya Ogawa (Japanese: 小川 淳也, Hepburn: Ogawa Jun'ya; born 18 April 1971) is a Japanese politician who has been the president of the Democratic Reform Party (DRP) since September, 2026 and a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Takamatsu, Kagawa and graduate of the University of Tokyo, he joined the Ministry of Home Affairs in 1994. Leaving the ministry in 2003, he ran unsuccessfully for the House of Representatives in the same year. Two years later, he ran again and lost for a second time. He ran for a third time in 2009 and was elected for Kagawa 1st district. After being elected, he became Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications in the Hatoyama Cabinet. He left the office once Naoto Kan became Prime Minister and served as a backbencher for the rest of the DPJ government. He lost his district but won a proportional seat amidst the DPJ faltering in 2012, and continued to hold his proportional seat under the post-2012 DPJ and its successor, the DP. In 2017, amidst the DP dissolving into Kibō no Tō, he ran under Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike's new party, but began to clash with her stances and policy of expulsion for dovish DP members from the party. He was elected in the PR block again in 2017. He later declined to join the DPP and joined the CDP instead. Amidst the release of Why You Can't Be Prime Minister in 2020, a documentary focused on Ogawa's political life, he gained popularity and name recognition across the country. After winning his district of Kagawa-1 for the first time since 2009 in the 2021 election, he ran in the leadership election to succeed Yukio Edano. After placing third and not making a run-off, he was appointed Chairman of the Policy Research Council by Kenta Izumi. He resigned from the position after the 2022 House of Councilors election. In the 2024 CDP leadership election, he declined to run himself, and backed Yoshihiko Noda. Noda appointed him Secretary-General of the party following his victory. Ogawa, alongside Ichirō Ozawa and Noda, led the CDP to gain over 50 seats in the 2024 election, ending in the CDP having the greatest number of seats for an opposition party since 2003. He resigned from the role after the 2025 Councillor elections, and was one of seven Centrist Reform Alliance members to win a first-past-the-post district in 2026. He was elected president of the CRA following the 2026 leadership election and subsequently the DRP, after the CRA's effective dissolution.
Yuichiro Tamaki (玉木 雄一郎, Tamaki Yūichirō; born 1 May 1969) is a Japanese politician and the leader of the Democratic…
Yuichiro Tamaki (玉木 雄一郎, Tamaki Yūichirō; born 1 May 1969) is a Japanese politician and the leader of the Democratic Party For the People (DPFP). He is a member of the House of Representatives, and a former leader of Kibō no Tō. Before joining Kibō, Tamaki was a member of the Democratic Party.
Keitarō Ohno (大野 敬太郎, Ōno Keitarō; born 1 November 1968) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party. He…
Keitarō Ohno (大野 敬太郎, Ōno Keitarō; born 1 November 1968) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party. He is currently serving as Deputy Secretary-General of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan. He has served as State Minister of Cabinet Office in charge of Economic Security, Disaster Management, Space Policy, Science and Technology, etc, from 2021 to 2022, Parliamentary Vice Minister of Defense from 2017 to 2018, acting director of Foreign Policy Division and Deputy Chief Secretary of Security Research Committee from 2018 to 2019. He has been representing Kagawa 3rd district in the House of Representatives. He started his career as an engineering researcher at Fujitsu Limited. He was with the Space Development Group, involved in research and design of several components on flight-model satellites, including ARH on ETS-VII, GLI on ADEOS-II, TIR on ASTER, XRS on ASTRO-E and LISM on SELENE. In 1999, he moved to its research institute, Fujitsu Laboratories and was working on the robust and optimal control for applications including HDDs, humanoid robot, GPS, spatial information system, etc. During this term, he was with the University of California at Berkeley as visiting fellow to continue to work on the fundamental research on control engineering.
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.
Takakazu Seto (瀬戸隆一, Seto Takakazu; born 2 August 1965) is a Japanese politician serving as state minister of the…
Takakazu Seto (瀬戸隆一, Seto Takakazu; born 2 August 1965) is a Japanese politician serving as state minister of the Cabinet Office since 2024. He has been a member of the House of Representatives since 2023, having previously served from 2012 to 2017.
Shinichiro Furumoto (古本 伸一郎, Furumoto Shinichirō; born 11 March 1965) is a former Japanese politician of the Democratic…
Shinichiro Furumoto (古本 伸一郎, Furumoto Shinichirō; born 11 March 1965) is a former Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, who served as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Takamatsu, Kagawa and graduate of Ritsumeikan University, he was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 2003. As a member of the Diet, he represents the 11th District of Aichi prefecture, which includes the cities of Toyota and Miyoshi.
Shingo Miyake (born November 24, 1961) is a Japanese politician who is a former member of the House of Councillors of…
Shingo Miyake (born November 24, 1961) is a Japanese politician who is a former member of the House of Councillors of Japan.
Toyohito Ikeda (池田豊人, Ikeda Toyohito; born 15 July 1961) is a Japanese politician. He currently serves as governor of…
Toyohito Ikeda (池田豊人, Ikeda Toyohito; born 15 July 1961) is a Japanese politician. He currently serves as governor of Kagawa Prefecture since 2022.
Yoshiki Yamashita (山下 芳生, Yamashita Yoshiki; born 27 February 1960) is a Japanese politician who served as a member of…
Yoshiki Yamashita (山下 芳生, Yamashita Yoshiki; born 27 February 1960) is a Japanese politician who served as a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature), representing the Japanese Communist Party. A native of Kagawa Prefecture and graduate of Tottori University, he was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 1995 after running unsuccessfully in 1992. He lost the seat in the 2001 re-election and then ran unsuccessfully for the House of Representatives in 2003 and 2005. In 2007, he was elected to the House of Councillors for the second time. He is known for his left-wing radicalism.
Hideto Ōnishi (大西 秀人, Ōnishi Hideto; born 23 August 1959) is a Japanese politician and the current mayor of Takamatsu…
Hideto Ōnishi (大西 秀人, Ōnishi Hideto; born 23 August 1959) is a Japanese politician and the current mayor of Takamatsu, the capital city of Kagawa Prefecture, Japan.
Takuya Hirai is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), a member of the House of Representatives…
Takuya Hirai is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Takamatsu, Kagawa and graduate of Sophia University he was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 2000 as a member of the New Frontier Party after running unsuccessfully as an independent in 1996. He later joined LDP. On 1 September 2021, he became the Digital Minister, who has jurisdiction over the Digital Agency. Prior to entering politics, he was the president of Nishinippon Broadcasting, which is owned by him and his family.
Yoshihiko Isozaki (born September 8, 1957, in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese politician who has served as a…
Yoshihiko Isozaki (born September 8, 1957, in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the House of Councillors of Japan since 2010. He represents the Kagawa at-large district and is a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. He is a member of the following committees in the House of Councillors: Committee on Judicial Affairs (director) Committee on Budget Special Committee on North Korean Abduction Issue and Related Matters Commission on the Constitution Board of Oversight and Review of Specially Designated Secrets
Keizō Hamada (浜田 恵造, Hamada Keizō; born 10 January 1952) is a former Japanese politician and finance bureaucrat and a…
Keizō Hamada (浜田 恵造, Hamada Keizō; born 10 January 1952) is a former Japanese politician and finance bureaucrat and a former governor of Kagawa Prefecture in the Shikoku region of Japan. He held office for three terms, from September 2010 to September 2022.
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.
Shigeaki Kato (Japanese: 加藤繁秋 Katō Shigeaki; 11 June 1947 – 17 August 2022) was a Japanese politician. A member of the…
Shigeaki Kato (Japanese: 加藤繁秋 Katō Shigeaki; 11 June 1947 – 17 August 2022) was a Japanese politician. A member of the Japan Socialist Party, he served in the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of Kagawa prefecture from 1990 to 1993. Kato died on 17 August 2022, at the age of 75.
Toshio Yamauchi (山内 俊夫, Yamauchi Toshio; born December 17, 1946) is a Japanese former politician of the Liberal…
Toshio Yamauchi (山内 俊夫, Yamauchi Toshio; born December 17, 1946) is a Japanese former politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Marugame, Kagawa and graduate of Waseda University, he was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 1998 after serving in the assembly of Kagawa Prefecture since 1991.
Takeki Manabe (真鍋 武紀, Manabe Takeki; born 3 April 1940) is a Japanese politician who was the 43rd governor of Kagawa…
Takeki Manabe (真鍋 武紀, Manabe Takeki; born 3 April 1940) is a Japanese politician who was the 43rd governor of Kagawa Prefecture in Japan, serving three terms from 1998 until 2010. In 2009 he announced he would not contest the 2010 election and was succeeded by Keizō Hamada.
Nobuko Okashita (岡下 信子, Okashita Nobuko; born 28 June 1939) is a retired Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic…
Nobuko Okashita (岡下 信子, Okashita Nobuko; born 28 June 1939) is a retired 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 Kagawa Prefecture and graduate of Gakushuin Women's Junior College, she was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 2000. She lost her seat in 2003 but was re-elected two years later.
Hiroyuki Konishi (Japanese: 小西博行 Konishi Hiroyuki; 19 October 1936 – 23 January 2022) was a Japanese politician. A…
Hiroyuki Konishi (Japanese: 小西博行 Konishi Hiroyuki; 19 October 1936 – 23 January 2022) was a Japanese politician. A member of the Democratic Socialist Party, he served in the House of Councillors from 1980 to 1992. He died in Kure on 23 January 2022, at the age of 85.
Yoshinori Ohno (大野 功統 Ōno Yoshinori; 16 October 1935 – 16 July 2023) was a Japanese politician who served as Minister…
Yoshinori Ohno (大野 功統 Ōno Yoshinori; 16 October 1935 – 16 July 2023) was a Japanese politician who served as Minister of State for Defense in Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's third Cabinet from 2004 to 2005. He was a member of the Liberal Democratic Party.
Kenji Manabe (Japanese: 真鍋賢二 Manabe Kenji; 14 July 1935 – 2 March 2024) was a Japanese pathologist and politician. A…
Kenji Manabe (Japanese: 真鍋賢二 Manabe Kenji; 14 July 1935 – 2 March 2024) was a Japanese pathologist and politician. A member of the Liberal Democratic Party, he served in the House of Councillors from 1977 to 1989 and again from 1995 to 2007. He was also Director-General of the Environmental Agency from 1998 to 1999. Manabe died in Tokyo on 2 March 2024, at the age of 88.
Hirofumi Daimatsu (大松 博文, Daimatsu Hirofumi; 12 February 1921 – 24 November 1978) was a Japanese volleyball coach and a…
Hirofumi Daimatsu (大松 博文, Daimatsu Hirofumi; 12 February 1921 – 24 November 1978) was a Japanese volleyball coach and a Japanese politician. He led Oriental Witches, nickname of "Nichibo Kaizuka", a factory volleyball team of Dai Nippon Spinning Co., Ltd. (later, Nichibo, thereafter, Unitika) in Kaizuka, Osaka given by the reports of European media when they achieved 24 consecutive victories against other national teams on the expedition to Europe, to world champion.
Tomomi Narita (成田 知巳, Narita Tomomi; 15 September 1912 – 9 March 1979) was a Japanese politician who served as the…
Tomomi Narita (成田 知巳, Narita Tomomi; 15 September 1912 – 9 March 1979) was a Japanese politician who served as the chairman for the Japan Socialist Party from 1968 to 1977. He also served in a few other capacities, such as Chief of the Policy Deliberation Group and Secretary General.
Masayoshi Ōhira (大平 正芳, Ōhira Masayoshi; 12 March 1910 – 12 June 1980) was a Japanese politician who served as prime…
Masayoshi Ōhira (大平 正芳, Ōhira Masayoshi; 12 March 1910 – 12 June 1980) was a Japanese politician who served as prime minister of Japan from 1978 until his death in 1980. Born in Kagawa Prefecture, Ōhira worked in the Ministry of Finance from 1936, and served as the private secretary to Hayato Ikeda, finance minister from 1949 to 1952. Ōhira was first elected to the Diet in 1952, and served as foreign minister in Ikeda's cabinet from 1962 to 1964 and as international trade and industry minister from 1968 to 1970 under Eisaku Satō. He took over Ikeda's faction of the Liberal Democratic Party and later served as foreign minister from 1972 to 1974 under Kakuei Tanaka and as finance minister from 1974 to 1976 under Takeo Miki. He succeeded Takeo Fukuda as LDP president and prime minister in 1978. After his government was defeated in a no-confidence vote, Ōhira decided to call the 1980 election rather than resign, but died suddenly of a heart attack. He is the most recent Japanese premier to die in office.
Juichi Tsushima (Japanese: 津島壽一) (1888–1967) was the 7th President of the Japanese Olympic Committee (1959–1962). He…
Juichi Tsushima (Japanese: 津島壽一) (1888–1967) was the 7th President of the Japanese Olympic Committee (1959–1962). He was a graduate of the Tokyo Imperial University. From 1957 to 1958 he was Director General of the Japan Defense Agency.
Bukichi Miki (三木 武吉, Miki Bukichi; 15 August 1884 – 4 July 1956) was a Japanese politician. He was a close friend and…
Bukichi Miki (三木 武吉, Miki Bukichi; 15 August 1884 – 4 July 1956) was a Japanese politician. He was a close friend and ally of Ichiro Hatoyama, and was the key figure in carrying out the "conservative merger" that resulted in the formation of the Liberal Democratic Party. Despite being a powerful conservative politician in the Taishō and Shōwa eras, Miki remarkably never held any cabinet post. He still has a high reputation as the archetype of a behind-the-scenes power broker, and at the zenith of their power there were times when both Kanemaru Shin and Hiromu Nonaka were openly complimented by Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone for having "surpassed Bukichi Miki." Miki's nicknames included "the heckling general," "the wily schemer," and "the great tanuki of Japanese politics."
Hideyuki Yokoyama (横山 英幸, Yokoyama Hideyuki; born 13 May 1981) is a Japanese economist and politician who has served as…
Hideyuki Yokoyama (横山 英幸, Yokoyama Hideyuki; born 13 May 1981) is a Japanese economist and politician who has served as the incumbent mayor of Osaka since 9 April 2023. He graduated from Kwansei Gakuin University with a degree in economics in 2004 and immediately began a career under the Osaka prefectural government. He was elected to the Osaka Prefectural Assembly in April 2011 and won further two terms in April 2015 and April 2019. He was elected as Osaka Restoration Association / Nippon Ishin No Kai candidate for mayor of Osaka in the April 2023 Osaka mayoral election following the previous incumbent, Ichirō Matsui's retirement from politics following the defeat of the Osaka Metropolis Plan in a 2020 referendum. He was reelected in 2026.