is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan (until its dissolution), and a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (the national legislature of Japan). He represents the First District of Oita prefecture. A native of Oita and graduate of the University of Tokyo, he ran unsuccessfully for the governorship of Oita Prefecture in 2003. In the same year, he ran for the House of Representatives as an independent and was elected for the first time.