Chiharu Araki (born 1 March 1982) is a Japanese politician who is currently serving as a member of the Tokyo…Chiharu Araki (born 1 March 1982) is a Japanese politician who is currently serving as a member of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly and as the leader of the Tomin First no Kai political party. Araki was born in Kumamoto Prefecture and graduated from the law school of Kurume University. She previously served as the secretary of Yuriko Koike, the current Governor of Tokyo.
Kentaro Asahi (朝日健太郎, Asahi Kentarō; born September 19, 1975) is a Japanese professional beach volleyball player and…Kentaro Asahi (朝日健太郎, Asahi Kentarō; born September 19, 1975) is a Japanese professional beach volleyball player and politician. He was born in Kumamoto, Kumamoto Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan. Asahi played as a center for the Japan men's national volleyball team in the 1990s. He ended up in sixteenth place at the 1998 World Championship, and later on started a career in beach volleyball. Asahi and teammate Katsuhiro Shiratori represented Japan in beach volleyball at the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics. Asahi began to work for the IT company Forval Corporation in 2011 through a Japanese Olympic Committee athlete hiring program. In July 2016, Asahi was elected as a member of the House of Councillors representing the Tokyo at-large district for the Liberal Democratic Party.
Akiko Honda is a Japanese politician who is a member of the Senate of Japan. She was elected in 2019 to the national…Akiko Honda is a Japanese politician who is a member of the Senate of Japan. She was elected in 2019 to the national proportional representation block.
Yoshifumi Matsumura (松村 祥史, Matsumura Yoshifumi; born April 22, 1964) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal…Yoshifumi Matsumura (松村 祥史, Matsumura Yoshifumi; born April 22, 1964) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A graduate of Senshu University, he was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 2004.
Kenzo Fujisue (藤末 健三, Fujisue Kenzō; born February 18, 1964) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party…Kenzo Fujisue (藤末 健三, Fujisue Kenzō; born February 18, 1964) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Kumamoto, Kumamoto, he graduated from Tokyo Institute of Technology and received master's degrees from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University in the United States. He was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 2004 when he left an assistant professorship at the University of Tokyo.
Yasushi Kaneko (金子 恭之, Kaneko Yasushi; born 27 February 1961) is a Japanese politician who served as Minister for…Yasushi Kaneko (金子 恭之, Kaneko Yasushi; born 27 February 1961) is a Japanese politician who served as Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications from October 2021 to August 2022. He is serving in the House of Representatives as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party.
Yorihisa Matsuno (松野 頼久, Matsuno Yorihisa; born 19 September 1960) is a former Japanese politician. He was a member of…Yorihisa Matsuno (松野 頼久, Matsuno Yorihisa; born 19 September 1960) is a former Japanese politician. He was a member of the Japan Restoration Association (JRA), and a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). On 3 October 2012, he was selected as the parliamentary leader of the JRA and held this position until the party dissolved in September 2014. He is the member for the Kumamoto No. 1 seat and has been elected four times.
Ikuo Kabashima (蒲島 郁夫, Kabashima Ikuo; born 28 January 1947) is a Japanese politician and a former governor of Kumamoto…Ikuo Kabashima (蒲島 郁夫, Kabashima Ikuo; born 28 January 1947) is a Japanese politician and a former governor of Kumamoto Prefecture. Kabashima served as governor for 4 terms, between 2008 and 2024. Ikuo Kabashima received a bachelor's and master's degrees in Animal Science and Agricultural Economics from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. He received a Ph.D. in political economy from Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government in 1979. He studied under Samuel P. Huntington and Sidney Verba in HKS. Kabashima was an associate professor at the Institute of Policy and Planning Sciences of the University of Tsukuba from 1986 to 1991. He became a professor in 1991 and in 1996 was named dean of the Graduate School of International Political Economy. In 1997 he became a professor of law at the University of Tokyo. Kabahsima led the development of Kumamon, a promotional mascot that gained popularity both in Japan and abroad.
Toshikatsu Matsuoka (松岡 利勝, Matsuoka Toshikatsu; 25 February 1945 – 28 May 2007) was a Japanese politician who served…Toshikatsu Matsuoka (松岡 利勝, Matsuoka Toshikatsu; 25 February 1945 – 28 May 2007) was a Japanese politician who served as the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries from 2006 until his suicide in 2007 amid a financial scandal.
Takeshi Hayashida (林田 彪, Hayashida Takeshi; born 1944) is a former Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party…Takeshi Hayashida (林田 彪, Hayashida Takeshi; born 1944) is a former Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), who served as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Nagasu, Kumamoto and graduate of Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology he joined the Ministry of Construction in 1967. Leaving the ministry, he was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 1996. He represented the 2nd District of Kumamoto Prefecture.
Hiroyuki Sonoda (園田 博之, Sonoda Hiroyuki; 19 February 1942 – 11 November 2018) was a Japanese politician who served in…Hiroyuki Sonoda (園田 博之, Sonoda Hiroyuki; 19 February 1942 – 11 November 2018) was a Japanese politician who served in the Diet (national legislature) as a member of the House of Representatives for Kumamoto 4th district; following the 2017 general election when Kumamoto lost one seat due to reapportionment, he moved to the Kyūshū proportional representation block. He was a member of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), previous party affiliations have been independent→LDP→New Party Sakigake→Independent→LDP→Sunrise Party of Japan→Sunrise Party→Japan Restoration Party→Party for Future Generations→Sunrise Party→Party for Future Generations→LDP.
Ryoichi Honda (Japanese: 本田良一, Hepburn: Honda Ryōichi; 24 April 1940 – 22 July 2022) was a Japanese politician. A…Ryoichi Honda (Japanese: 本田良一, Hepburn: Honda Ryōichi; 24 April 1940 – 22 July 2022) was a Japanese politician. A member of the Democratic Party of Japan, he served in the House of Councillors from 1998 to 2004. Honda died on 22 July 2022, at the age of 82.
Hitoshi Kimura (木村 仁, Kimura Hitoshi; 24 June 1934 – 15 November 2023) was a Japanese politician of the Liberal…Hitoshi Kimura (木村 仁, Kimura Hitoshi; 24 June 1934 – 15 November 2023) was a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Kumamoto Prefecture and graduate of the University of Tokyo, he worked at the Ministry of Home Affairs from 1958 to 1991. After teaching, he was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 1998. Kimura died in Tokyo on 15 November 2023, at the age of 89.
Raizo Matsuno (松野 頼三, Matsuno Raizō; 12 February 1917 – 10 May 2006) was a Japanese politician. Born in Yamaga…Raizo Matsuno (松野 頼三, Matsuno Raizō; 12 February 1917 – 10 May 2006) was a Japanese politician. Born in Yamaga, Kumamoto, Kumamoto Prefecture in 1917, Matsuno served in the Imperial Japanese Navy as an officer at the end of World War II as he was attending Naval Accounting School. He successively held numerous offices in post-war Japan: Director-General for the Prime Minister's Office from 1958 to 1959 under Nobusuke Kishi Minister of Labor from 1959 to 1960 under Nobusuke Kishi Director General of the Japan Defense Agency from 1965 to 1966 under Eisaku Satō Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries 1966 under Eisaku Satō He was Chairman of the Policy Affairs Research Council at Liberal Democratic Party, Chairman of the Executive Council.
Michita Sakata (Japanese: 坂田 道太; 18 July 1916 – 13 January 2004) was a Japanese politician and member of the House of…Michita Sakata (Japanese: 坂田 道太; 18 July 1916 – 13 January 2004) was a Japanese politician and member of the House of Representatives. Throughout his career, he served as the Minister of Education, Head of the Defense Agency, Minister of Justice, Minister of Health and Welfare, and Speaker of the House of Representatives. Sakata's prolific career spanned over 40 years, beginning in 1946 and ending in his retirement in 1990, being reelected 16 times to the House of Representatives. He is most known for his role in the suppression of the 1968-69 Japanese university protests as Minister of Education, as well as for his tenure as the Director of the Defense Agency, when he helped write the National Defense Program Outline and set guidelines for US-Japan cooperation.
Sunao Sonoda (園田 直, Sonoda Sunao; 11 December 1913 – 2 April 1984) was a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic…Sunao Sonoda (園田 直, Sonoda Sunao; 11 December 1913 – 2 April 1984) was a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) who served as minister for foreign affairs and minister of health and welfare. He was called "flying foreign minister" due to his active diplomacy in increasing the role of Japan when he was in office. He was one of the significant figures in normalizing the relations between Japan and China.
Shigeyoshi Matsumae (松前重義, Matsumae Shigeyoshi; October 24, 1901 – August 25, 1991) was a Japanese electrical engineer…Shigeyoshi Matsumae (松前重義, Matsumae Shigeyoshi; October 24, 1901 – August 25, 1991) was a Japanese electrical engineer, inventor of the non-loaded cable carrier system, the Minister of the Ministry of Communications (Teishin-in, between August 30, 1945, and April 8, 1946), politician and the founder of Tokai University. He is also known as a patron of Yasuhiro Yamashita, a judo champion from Tokai University.
Isei Otsuka (大塚 惟精, Ōtsuka Isei, 11 December 1884 – 6 August 1945) was a Japanese politician who served as governor of…Isei Otsuka (大塚 惟精, Ōtsuka Isei, 11 December 1884 – 6 August 1945) was a Japanese politician who served as governor of Hiroshima Prefecture from April to June 1945. He was also governor of Tochigi Prefecture (1924–1926), Fukuoka Prefecture (1926–1927) and Ishikawa Prefecture (1927). He was killed in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.
Korehiro Kurahara (蔵原 惟郭; August 11, 1861 – January 8, 1949) was a Japanese educator and politician. He was the father…Korehiro Kurahara (蔵原 惟郭; August 11, 1861 – January 8, 1949) was a Japanese educator and politician. He was the father of Korehito Kurahara.
Count Kiyoura Keigo (清浦 奎吾; 14 February or 27 March 1850 – 5 November 1942) was a Japanese politician. He was the Prime…Count Kiyoura Keigo (清浦 奎吾; 14 February or 27 March 1850 – 5 November 1942) was a Japanese politician. He was the Prime Minister of Japan in 1924, during the period which historians have called the "Taishō Democracy".
Minoru Kihara (木原 稔, Kihara Minoru; born 12 August 1969) is a Japanese politician who has been the Chief Cabinet…Minoru Kihara (木原 稔, Kihara Minoru; born 12 August 1969) is a Japanese politician who has been the Chief Cabinet Secretary since 2025. He previously served as Minister of Defense from 2023 to 2024. A member of the Liberal Democratic Party, he also serves in the House of Representatives, and was previously Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Defense.
Tetsushi Sakamoto (坂本 哲志, Sakamoto Tetsushi; born 1950) is a Japanese politician who served as the minister of…Tetsushi Sakamoto (坂本 哲志, Sakamoto Tetsushi; born 1950) is a Japanese politician who served as the minister of loneliness from 12 February 2021 to 4 October 2021 and as the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries from 14 December 2023 to 1 October 2024. He is also a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature), representing the Liberal Democratic Party.