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Taro Yamamoto

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For the artist, see Taro Yamamoto (artist).

Taro Yamamoto
山本 太郎
Yamamoto in 2022
Leader of Reiwa Shinsengumi
Incumbent
Assumed office
1 April 2019
Preceded byPosition established
Member of the House of Councillors
Incumbent
Assumed office
25 July 2022
ConstituencyTokyo
In office
21 July 2013 – 21 July 2019
ConstituencyTokyo
Member of the House of Representatives
In office
31 October 2021 – 15 April 2022
Succeeded byMari Kushibuchi
ConstituencyTokyo proportional representation block
Personal details
Born (1974-11-24) 24 November 1974 (age 50)
Takarazuka, Hyōgo, Japan
Political partyReiwa Shinsengumi (2019–present)
Other political
affiliations		Independent (2011–2014)
People's Life Party (2014–2016)
Liberal Party (2016–2019)
OccupationPolitician

Tarō Yamamoto (山本 太郎, Yamamoto Tarō, born 24 November 1974) is a Japanese politician and former actor, who is the founder and current leader of the anti-establishment political party Reiwa Shinsengumi. Yamamoto currently serves in the House of Councillors representing Tokyo, and previously served in the House of Representatives from 2021 to 2022. He unsuccessfully ran in the 2020 Tokyo gubernatorial election as a candidate under Reiwa.

Early life and acting career

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Yamamoto was born in Takarazuka, Hyogo; his father died shortly after his birth, and he and his two older sisters were raised by their mother, who sold Persian carpets.[1] He said in his speech that when he was called to the principal's office when he was 11 years old and asked about his future dream, he answered, "Prime Minister".[2]

Yamamoto began his career as a television personality in 1990, appearing in dramas such as Futarikko (1996–97) and Shinsengumi! (2004). He appeared in dozens of films, including Battle Royale (2000) and Moon Child (2003), winning a Blue Ribbon Award for Best Supporting Actor for the latter. He continued appearing in films and television until 2013.

Political career

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Independent (2011–2014)

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Yamamoto entered politics after the Fukushima nuclear meltdown in March 2011. He announced that he "would no longer be a silent accomplice of the terrorist nation Japan", and became a protester in the anti-nuclear movement.[3] He resigned from his talent agency some time later in order to focus on activism. Yamamoto, a resident of Tokyo, flew to Saga Prefecture in July and attempted, along with a local citizens' group, to enter the governor's office to protest the restart of a power plant.[1] He chanted phrases such as, "Protect our children!", "We don't need nuclear energy!" and "Come out, Governor!". He did not get an audience with the governor, but said he was glad that he came.[4] The scene was broadcast on television, and the Saga District Public Prosecutors Office considered pressing charges against Yamamoto. Following the incident, in early 2012, Yamamoto led a petition campaign in Tokyo to hold a referendum that would bar Tokyo Electric Power Company from continuing to run nuclear facilities.[1]

He attempted to run for a seat in the House of Representatives during the 2012 general election, but placed second in the Tokyo 8th district and did not win a seat.[5] He then ran an independent campaign (endorsed by the New Socialist Party[6]) to be elected to the House of Councillors in the 2013 election,[7][8][9][10] and was elected on 21 July. He was supported in the election by the People's Life Party, Social Democratic Party and Greens Japan.

On 31 October 2013, Yamamoto handed a political letter to the Emperor Akihito at a non-political garden party. The letter was immediately passed on to the chamberlain. Whether the letter was read by the Emperor is unknown. The letter reportedly contained his complaints about the handling of the nuclear disaster. The Huffington Post reported that the action may have violated the Constitution of Japan, since the Emperor is not allowed to involve himself in political issues.[11] The Japanese Communist Party chairman Kazuo Shii inferred that Yamamoto "didn't understand the Constitution".[12] Various political leaders expressed their anger and disappointment in Yamamoto's alleged abuse of his legislative position,[13] as well as Takeshi Kitano, who called the incident "somewhat of an insult".[14] However, the manga artist Yoshinori Kobayashi supported Yamamoto's actions.[15] On 8 November, Yamamoto received an official reprimand from the Speaker of the House of Councillors, Masaaki Yamazaki. It was also announced that he will be banned from any kind of imperial events during his entire term.

In December 2013, he promised he would mobilize a million people to lay siege to the National Diet in protest of the State Secrecy Law.[16] In the 19th Tokyo gubernatorial election held in February 2014, he didn't support any specific candidate, and called for supporting candidates that oppose nuclear power.[17]

People's Life Party (PLP) (2014–2016)

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Yamamoto in July 2016

In the 2014 Japanese general election, the People's Life Party (PLP) lost seats and was in danger of losing its qualification as a political party. After the election, Yamamoto joined the party, and the party name was changed to "People's Life Party & Taro Yamamoto and Friends."[18]

In September 2015, in a vote of security-related bills of the House of Councillors plenary session, he voted while wearing mourning garb and a rosary, and gestured to offer incense to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the Liberal Democratic Party.

Tarō Yamamoto giving a speech in Shimbashi, 2018

Liberal Party (2016–2019)

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In October 2016, the People's Life Party & Taro Yamamoto and Friends was renamed to Liberal Party in preparation of the upcoming general election in 2017. The party went into the election as an informal bloc, and most of its members chose to either run under the Kibō no Tō banner or as independents.

In April 2019, the Liberal Party officially dissolved and merged into the Democratic Party for the People. However, Yamamoto announced his intentions before the merger to form a new group, named Reiwa Shinsengumi.[19]

Reiwa Shinsengumi (2019–present)

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In the first election the party contested, Yamamoto lost his seat in the House of Councillors after switching his electoral district from Tokyo to the party's National PR list, but he led his party to win 4.55% of the vote and two seats in the House of Councillors. Both of the candidates who won — Yasuhiko Funago and Eiko Kimura — were elected from the nationwide proportional bloc, and both were the first people with severe disabilities to be elected to the parliament.[20][21]

In June 2020, Yamamoto announced his candidacy for the 2020 Tokyo gubernatorial election. His campaign was mainly based around a pledge to cancel the 2020 Summer Olympics, and to also establish a 100,000 yen direct cash relief handout program as a part of Tokyo's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[22] Yamamoto came in third place in the election, winning 657,277 votes, or 10.72% of the vote.[23]

At the 2021 general election, Yamamoto won a seat in the House of Representatives running on the Tokyo PR list. His party won three seats, up from the one it held. It won seats in Tokyo, which was won by Yamamoto himself, the South Kanto proportional block, won by Ryo Tagaya, and the Kinki proportional block, which is held by Akiko Ōishi. The party also extensively co-operated with opposition parties, forming a four group pact with the Constitutional Democratic Party, Japanese Communist Party, and Social Democratic Party. Yamamoto also withdrew from running for Tokyo's 8th district and opted to run for Tokyo's proportional block as a result, leaving the 8th to the CDP's Harumi Yoshida. Reiwa Shinsengumi also withdrew seven candidates as part of the pact, meaning over 40% of its planned slate would end up not running.[24]

Yamamoto resigned his seat in the House of Representatives in April 2022, and announced his intention to increase his party's representation in the House of Councillors. He was replaced in the lower house by Mari Kushibuchi.[25][26] Yamamoto won his seat, along with Reiwa gaining three councilors from 2019, leading to a total of 5 councilors after Reiwa won 4.37% of the vote. Two other councilors were elected from the nationwide proportional block.

In 2023, Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers physically held Yamamoto back as he attempted to fling himself at members desks to block an anti-refugee bill in the House of Councilors. The melee lasted several minutes, with the scene being reported on by numerous news outlets.[27]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1996 That's Cunning! Shijō Saidai no Sakusen? Kimura Kenji
1998 Love Letter
1999 Big show! Hawaii ni utaeba
2000 Battle Royale Shogo Kawada
2001 Hashire! Ichiro
2001 Rain of Light
2001 Go Tawake
2001 Genji: A Thousand-Year Love
2002 Through the Night
2003 Moon Child Toshi
2003 Get Up! Taro
2003 The Boat to Heaven
2004 Shinsengumi! Harada Sanosuke
2004 Akai tsuki Makita Shoichi
2004 A Day on the Planet
2004 Izo
2005 Princess Raccoon Ostrich Monk
2005 Under the Same Moon
2009 Kaiji Jōji Funai
2010 Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider OOO & W Featuring Skull: Movie War Core (Skull: Message for Double) Seiichiro Matsui
2011 My Way Noda

References

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  1. ^ a b c Arita, Eriko (4 March 2012). "Taro Yamamoto: Actor in the spotlight of Japan's antinuke movement". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  2. ^ 【山本太郎】7歳少年から質問きた #shorts #山本太郎 #国会中継 #切り抜き #れいわ新選組 #小学生 #政治 #質問 [A 7-year-old boy asks a question to Taro Yamamoto]. YouTube. 18 February 2023. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  3. ^ "東京・高円寺で反原発を訴える大規模デモ、山本太郎も参加" [Large-scale demonstration calling for an end to nuclear power held in Tokyo's Koenji neighborhood, with participation from Taro Yamamoto] (in Japanese). Searchina. 11 April 2011. Archived from the original on 19 April 2011.
  4. ^ "山本太郎 佐賀県庁突入「知事出てこい」" [Taro Yamamoto forcibly enters Saga Prefectural Office, demanding the governor to come out]. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 12 July 2011. Archived from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  5. ^ "山本太郎: 東京8区 : プロフィル : 衆院選2012 : 衆院選 : 選挙 : YOMIURI ONLINE（読売新聞）". Yomiuri.co.jp. Archived from the original on 6 November 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  6. ^ 参議院議員選挙 新社会党が推薦・支持 [House of Councillors election: New Socialist Party endorses and supports candidates] (in Japanese). New Socialist Party of Japan. 22 July 2013. Archived from the original on 16 September 2013.
  7. ^ 山本太郎 市民の力で国会へ [Yamamoto Taro: bringing citizen power to the National Diet]. Daily Sports (in Japanese). 14 June 2013. Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  8. ^ 山本太郎氏 円形脱毛4cmに広がった!. Daily Sports (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  9. ^ 俳優山本太郎氏、無所属で立候補 [Actor Taro Yamamoto to run as an independent candidate]. Daily Sports (in Japanese). Retrieved 7 July 2013.[permanent dead link‍]
  10. ^ 山本太郎出陣 円形脱毛は4cmに拡大. Daily Sports (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  11. ^ 山本太郎氏、天皇陛下に直訴 園遊会で手紙を手渡し 請願法違反の可能性も [Taro Yamamoto personally appeals to His Majesty the Emperor, hands over letter at the Garden Party, potential violation of the petition law]. The Huffington Post (in Japanese). 31 October 2013. Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
  12. ^ 山本太郎議員手紙手渡し問題「マスコミが騒いだから」と反論. Fuji News Network. 1 November 2013. Archived from the original on 3 November 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
  13. ^ 与野党が問題視 「政治利用なりかねず」 [Ruling and opposition parties both raise concerns over potential political exploitation] (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 3 November 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  14. ^ たけし、山本太郎に苦言「失礼だよね」 [Takeshi [Kitano] criticizes Taro Yamamoto: "It's disrespectful, isn't it?"]. Daily Sports (in Japanese). 3 November 2013. Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  15. ^ "山本太郎の件で、自民党議員はわしと対決せよ！". Archived from the original on 6 November 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  16. ^ "秘密保護法潰す奇策「デモで国会封鎖」!? 山本太郎が「60年安保の再現」狙う" [Unconventional plan to crush the State Secrecy Law: "Blockade the Diet with protests" – Taro Yamamoto aims to reproduce the 1960 Anpo protests] (in Japanese). J-cast News. 4 December 2013. Archived from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  17. ^ Yamamoto, Taro (23 January 2014). "都知事選どうすんの?!". 山本太郎オフィシャルブログ「山本 太郎の小中高生に読んでもらいたいコト」 (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 8 April 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2016 – via Ameba.
  18. ^ 政治資金規正法に基づく政治団体の届出 (PDF) (in Japanese). Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. 26 December 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  19. ^ "山本太郎氏「れいわ新選組」設立 「この国の人々、お守りいたす」" [Taro Yamamoto establishes Reiwa Shinsengumi, stating he aims to "protect the people of our country"]. The Sankei News (in Japanese). 10 April 2019. Archived from the original on 22 January 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  20. ^ "Japan's first severely disabled lawmakers join parliament". BBC News. 1 August 2019. Archived from the original on 16 October 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  21. ^ Osaki, Tomohiro (1 August 2019). "Opposition lawmakers with severe disabilities make Upper House debut after steps taken toward creating barrier-free Diet". The Japan Times. ISSN 0447-5763. Archived from the original on 13 November 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  22. ^ "Reiwa Shinsengumi leader Taro Yamamoto to run for Tokyo governor". The Japan Times. Kyodo News. 15 June 2020. Archived from the original on 2 July 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  23. ^ "開票速報｜2020都知事選（東京都知事選挙）". The Asahi Shimbun. Archived from the original on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  24. ^ Kitami, Hideki. "Opposition leader does about-face after backlash". The Asahi Shimbun. The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis. Archived from the original on 17 October 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  25. ^ "Reiwa Shinsengumi leader quits Lower House to run for Upper House seat". The AU Times. 19 April 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.[permanent dead link‍]
  26. ^ "Leader of Reiwa Shinsengumi quits Lower House to run for Upper House seat". The Japan Times. 15 April 2022. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  27. ^ Brzeski, Patrick (8 June 2023). "'Battle Royale' Star Causes Wild Scene in Japan's Parliament Over Controversial Immigration Bill". Archived from the original on 26 December 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
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