Yuichiro Tamaki Explained

Yuichiro Tamaki
Native Name Lang:ja
Office:Leader of the Democratic Party For the People
Term Start:7 May 2018
Term End:4 December 2024
Co-Leader:Kohei Otsuka
Predecessor:Party established
Successor:Motohisa Furukawa (Acting)
Office1:Leader of Kibō no Tō
Term Start1:14 November 2017[1]
Term End1:7 May 2018
Deputy1:Atsushi Oshima
Predecessor1:Yuriko Koike
Successor1:Shigefumi Matsuzawa
Office2:Member of the House of Representatives
Term Start2:31 August 2009
Predecessor2:Yoshio Kimura
Constituency2:Kagawa-2nd
Birth Date:1969 5, df=yes
Birth Place:Sangawa, Kagawa, Japan
Alma Mater:University of Tokyo (BA)
Harvard University (MPA)
Party:DPP (2018–present)
Otherparty:DPJ (2005–2016)
DP (2016–2017)
Kibō (2017–2018)

is a Japanese politician and the leader of the Democratic Party For the People (DPFP). He is a member of the House of Representatives,[2] and a former leader of Kibō no Tō.[3] [4] Before joining Kibō, Tamaki was a member of the Democratic Party.[4]

Early life and government career

Tamaki was born in Sangawa, a small rural town in Kagawa Prefecture. His parents are engaged in agriculture.

After graduating from the Faculty of Law, University of Tokyo, he joined the Ministry of Finance in 1993. With government sponsorship, he obtained an MPA from the John F. Kennedy School of Government in 1997, and thereafter served on secondments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (where he covered Jordan and Libya), the Financial Services Agency, Osaka Regional Tax Office, and the Cabinet Office. In the latter role, he worked closely with LDP Cabinet ministers Nobuteru Ishihara, Kazuyoshi Kaneko, and Seiichiro Murakami on administrative reform efforts.[5]

Political career

Tamaki resigned from government service in 2005 to run in the 2005 general election after both the Liberal Democratic Party and Democratic Party of Japan approached him to run.[6] He chose to run as a DPJ candidate despite having recently worked in incumbent LDP Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's Cabinet Office. He lost in this race and spent the next four years living with his extended family in the countryside.

In his second electoral attempt in the 2009 general election, he won a seat representing the Kagawa 2nd district, and the DPJ took over the reins of government from the LDP.[7] Tamaki held this seat in the 2012 general election, after which he was appointed Deputy Secretary-General of the DPJ, and held this seat again in the 2014 general election.

Tamaki was elected as the leader of Kibō no Tō in November 2017. In May 2018, Tamaki led a majority of Kibō members to merge with the Democratic Party, forming the Democratic Party For the People.[8] Tamaki became the co-leader of the new party, along with DP leader Kohei Otsuka.[9] [10] He would then win a 3-year term as sole party leader in September 2018.[11] [12]

In 2019, Tamaki publicly proposed a meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to discuss constitutional reform, as well as a debate in the Diet on constitutional revision.[13]

In September 2020, the DPFP disbanded, with most members joining the Constitutional Democratic Party. Tamaki and several other conservative DPFP members broke off to form their own party.[14] [15] Among other issues, Tamaki did not agree with the CDP's approach to lowering the consumption tax.[16]

Tamaki has been criticised by other elected politicians in his party for aligning the Democratic Party for the People with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), particularly in cooperation between both parties on legislation.[17] This led to a split in the party on 30 November 2023, where five of its elected politicians – four members of the House of Representatives and one member of the House of Councillors – left the party to form the Free Education For All.[18] [19]

In the House of Representatives election held in October 2024, Tamaki's DPFP achieved significant gains. With no single party reaching a majority, the DPFP, holding 28 seats, has become crucial in determining the balance of power. Western media referred to Tamaki as a "kingmaker." Although he received overtures from both Shigeru Ishiba and Yoshihiko Noda, he declined to join a coalition government, emphasizing a stance of deciding on each policy on a case-by-case basis.[20]

Political views

He supports the expansion of the Japan Self-Defense Forces' activities outside of Japan,[21] saying that the 2015 security laws should be amended instead of being repealed. Tamaki is supportive of amending the constitution, as he says that not setting out the scope of the Japan Self-Defense Forces gives Abe too much authority of what they can do. Opponents of this position, such as Hiroshi Ogushi, say that this is unnecessary. Tamaki opposes the Technical Intern Training Program, saying that it should instead by replaced with a program that specifies what industry a worker may work in and what country they may come from.[22]

On 4 January 2023, Tamaki visited Ise Grand Shrine on the same day as Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and CDP leader Kenta Izumi. Some liberals, progressives and Christians in Japan criticized them for affirming historical colonialism and trying to revive militarism.[23]

Personal life

In November 2024, Tamaki acknowledged entering into an extramarital relationship and apologized after the weekly magazine Flash reported that he was seen in hotels in Takamatsu with a local tourism ambassador.[24] [25] On December 4, the party decided to suspend Tamaki as its leader until March 3, 2025.[26]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tokyo Gov. Koike resigns as party leader after election defeat. https://web.archive.org/web/20171117002824/https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2017/11/5c53126f008d-update3-tokyo-gov-koike-resigns-as-party-leader-after-election-defeat.html. 17 November 2017. live.
  2. News: Yuichiro Tamaki emerges as top candidate to co-head Kibo no To. The Japan Times. 26 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171026162345/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/10/26/national/politics-diplomacy/yuichiro-tamaki-emerges-top-candidate-co-head-kibo-no/. 26 October 2017. dead.
  3. News: Reynolds. Isabel. Hirokawa. Takashi. Japan's Koike Steps Down as Party Leader to Focus on Tokyo Post. Bloomberg. 14 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171114190031/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-14/japan-s-koike-steps-down-as-party-leader-to-focus-on-tokyo-post. 14 November 2017. live.
  4. News: Osaki. Tomohiro. Party of Hope picks Yuichiro Tamaki to serve as co-leader alongside founder Yuriko Koike. The Japan Times. 10 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171110105448/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/11/10/national/politics-diplomacy/party-of-hope-picks-yuichiro-tamaki-to-serve-as-co-leader-alongside-founder-koike/. 10 November 2017. live.
  5. Web site: プロフィール. 2020-09-11. たまき雄一郎 オフィシャルサイト. ja. https://web.archive.org/web/20240623183522/https://www.tamakinet.jp/profile/. 23 June 2024. live.
  6. News: 小選挙区 香川 : 開票結果 : 総選挙2005. Yomiuri Shimbun. 2016-02-07. ja. https://web.archive.org/web/20060218111602/http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/election2005/kaihyou/ya37.htm#k02. 2006-02-18. dead.
  7. News: 第４５回衆議院議員選挙. Jiji Press. 2016-02-07. ja. https://web.archive.org/web/20131214173525/https://www.jiji.com/jc/election?g=2009syuin&l=senkyoku_37_02. 2013-12-14. live.
  8. News: 国民民主党、結党大会を開催 . Qnew News . 2018-05-07 . 2018-05-22 . ja. https://web.archive.org/web/20180522111928/https://qnew-news.net/news/2018-5/2018050702.html . 2018-05-22 . live.
  9. Web site: 7 May 2018. New opposition party lacking in numbers after 2 parties merge. 7 May 2018. Asahi Shimbun. https://web.archive.org/web/20180507112107/https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201805070046.html. 7 May 2018. dead.
  10. News: 希望の党共同代表に玉木雄一郎氏を選出. 産経新聞. 2017-11-10. ja. https://web.archive.org/web/20211118044810/https://www.sankei.com/article/20171110-LFOA4W5HDJLHJMQHEQ5TMKS7X4/. 2021-11-18. live.
  11. News: Kawai. Tatsuro. 4 September 2018. Tamaki chosen to lead DPP; vows to confront Abe government. Asahi Shimbun. 5 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180905050133/http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201809040030.html. 5 September 2018. dead.
  12. News: 【国民民主党代表選】「野党共闘に距離」を選択も　離党続出か？　旧民進系は「ジョーカーめぐるババ抜き」. 産経新聞. 2019-09-04. ja. https://web.archive.org/web/20230405044240/https://www.sankei.com/article/20180904-7YVVSQ7FONJPNOPINYD2WM3EW4/. 2023-04-05. live.
  13. Web site: 2019-07-26. DPFP's Tamaki to Propose Meeting on Constitution with Abe. 2020-09-11. nippon.com. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20220831193845/https://www.nippon.com/en/news/yjj2019072600015/dpfp's-tamaki-to-propose-meeting-on-constitution-with-abe.html. 31 August 2022. dead.
  14. Web site: Japan's fractured opposition unites as party of 140-plus lawmakers. 2020-09-11. Nikkei Asian Review. en-GB. https://web.archive.org/web/20200913123250/https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Japan-after-Abe/Japan-s-fractured-opposition-unites-as-party-of-140-plus-lawmakers. 13 September 2020. live.
  15. News: 国民民主「分党」へ　立民との合流巡り、玉木代表表明 . 日本経済新聞 . 2020-08-11 . 2020-09-13 . ja. https://web.archive.org/web/20200811154612/https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXMZO62524280R10C20A8MM8000. 2020-08-11. live.
  16. News: 2020-08-12. Japan opposition party to split as merger talks hit impasse. en. Mainichi Daily News. 2020-09-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20200821195159/https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20200812/p2g/00m/0na/012000c. 21 August 2020. dead.
  17. Web site: 2023-11-30 . Former Foreign Minister Maehara to form new party . 2023-11-30 . The Japan Times . en. https://web.archive.org/web/20231202045352/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/11/30/japan/politics/japan-opposition-maehara-forms-new-party/. 2 December 2023. dead.
  18. Web site: Veteran Maehara quits DPP to form new party for free education The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis . 2023-11-30 . The Asahi Shimbun . en . https://web.archive.org/web/20231130114343/https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15071107. 30 November 2023. live.
  19. Web site: 2023-11-30 . DPFP's Maehara, 3 Others to Leave Party . 2023-11-30 . nippon.com . en . https://web.archive.org/web/20231202045352/https://www.nippon.com/en/news/yjj2023113000864/. 2 December 2023. dead.
  20. Web site: 国民代表、部分連合に言及　政策重視、連立参画は否定　首相指名「玉木と書く」. Sankei Shimbun. 30 October 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20241112135102/https://www.sankei.com/article/20241029-LNSLZJWFJBLRFLFEHWQW42LV7U/. 12 November 2024. live.
  21. News: Yuichiro Tamaki elected Hope party co-leader alongside Koike. Takeshita. Yuka. 10 November 2017. Asahi Shimbun. https://web.archive.org/web/20171110141233/http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201711100054.html. 10 November 2017. dead.
  22. News: Kibo no To leadership contenders detail opposing views on security laws and Constitutional revision. The Japan Times. Osaki. Tomohiro. 9 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171109122857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/11/09/national/politics-diplomacy/kibo-no-leadership-contenders-detail-opposing-views-security-laws-constitutional-revision/. 9 November 2017. live.
  23. Web site: 同盟教団「教会と国家」委が首相らの伊勢神宮参拝に抗議　2023年2月1日 . . 15 March 2023 . ja. https://web.archive.org/web/20240227145838/https://www.kirishin.com/2023/02/06/58578/. 27 February 2024. live.
  24. Web site: Japan opposition DPP head admits marital affair, apologizes . . 13 November 2024 . en . https://web.archive.org/web/20241114045212/https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/11/f3f2b12dee7e-update1-japan-opposition-dpp-head-admits-marital-affair-apologizes.html. 14 November 2024. live.
  25. Web site: 国民・玉木代表、週刊誌の不倫報道「おおむね事実だ」と謝罪…代表辞任は「仲間の意見を聞きたい」 . 読売新聞オンライン . 2024-11-11 . 2024-11-11 . ja . https://web.archive.org/web/20241112220026/https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/20241111-OYT1T50030/ . 12 November 2024. live.
  26. Web site: Head of influential Japan opposition party suspended over affair . . 4 December 2024 . en .

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