Yoshiko Kira
Yoshiko Kira (吉良佳子, Kira Yoshiko) is a Japanese politician and member of the House of Councillors since 2013, representing the Tokyo at-large district. She is a member of the Japanese Communist Party.
Yoshiko Kira | |
|---|---|
吉良 佳子 | |
 | |
| Member of the House of Councillors | |
| Assumed office 29 July 2013 | |
| Constituency | Tokyo at-large district |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 14, 1982 Kōchi, Japan |
| Political party | Japanese Communist Party |
| Spouse | Yuichiro Matsushima |
| Website | http://kirayoshiko.com/ |
Kira was born in Kōchi, the daughter of a prefectural assemblyman. She graduated from Waseda University in 2005 and worked for Takara Printing Company for four years before entering politics.[1]
She first ran in the 2009 Tokyo metropolitan assembly elections as a candidate from Toshima City, but failed to win a seat. Her next appearance was in the 2013 House of Councillors election, in which she placed third within the Tokyo at-large district, becoming the first Communist party member to win an at-large district seat in twelve years.[2] One focus of her campaign, along with that of successful JCP candidate Saori Ikeuchi, was the unstable jobs situation faced by young people.[3]
She is a member of the House of Councillors Committee on General Affairs, Special Committee on Political Ethics and Election System, and Commission on the Constitution.[1]
Her husband Yuichiro Matsushima is a member of the Meguro City assembly in Tokyo.
References
- "Ms. KIRA Yoshiko". House of Councillors. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
- Blair, Gavin (5 August 2013). "Communist Party makes a comeback ... in Japan". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
- Brasor, Philip (16 May 2015). "JCP gains ground, but not column inches". The Japan Times. Retrieved 13 July 2016.