Tarō Yamamoto

Tarō Yamamoto (山本 太郎, Yamamoto Tarō, born 24 November 1974 in Takarazuka, Hyōgo) is a Japanese politician and former actor, who is the founder and current leader of the anti-establishment political party Reiwa Shinsengumi. Yamamoto served as a member of the House of Councillors from 2013 to 2019 and was a candidate in the 2020 Tokyo gubernatorial election.

For the artist, see Taro Yamamoto (artist).
Taro Yamamoto
山本 太郎
Tarō Yamamoto in April 2018
Leader of Reiwa Shinsengumi
Assumed office
1 April 2019
Preceded byPosition established
Member of the House of Councillors
In office
21 July 2013 – 21 July 2019
ConstituencyTokyo
Personal details
Born (1974-11-24) 24 November 1974
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

Early life

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] Yamamoto began his career as a television "talent" in 1990, appearing in dramas such as Futarikko (1996–97) and Shinsengumi! (2004). He also appeared in several films, including Battle Royale (2000) and Moon Child (2003).

Political career

Independent (2011–2014)

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.[2] 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!" "Come out, Governor!" He did not get an audience with the governor, but said he was glad that he came.[3] 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.[4] He then ran an independent campaign (endorsed by the New Socialist Party[5]) to be elected to the House of Councillors in the 2013 election,[6][7][8][9] 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.[10] The Japanese Communist Party chairman Kazuo Shii inferred that Yamamoto "didn't understand the Constitution".[11] Various political leaders expressed their anger and disappointment in Yamamoto's alleged abuse of his legislative position,[12] as well as Beat Takeshi, who called the incident "somewhat of an insult".[13] However, the manga artist Yoshinori Kobayashi supported Yamamoto's actions.[14] 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 Special Secrecy Law.[15] 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.[16]

People's Life Party (PLP) (2014–2016)
Tarō 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."[17]

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.

Liberal Party (2016–2019)

In October 2016, the People's Life Party was renamed to Liberal Party.

In April 2019, the Liberal Party dissolved and merged into the Democratic Party for the People.

Reiwa Shinsengumi (2019–present)

In April 2019, Yamamoto formed a new party, Reiwa Shinsengumi.[18] 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 two seats in the House of Councillors.

In June 2020, Yamamoto announced his candidacy for the 2020 Tokyo gubernatorial election. Yamamoto's campaign included a pledge to cancel the 2020 Summer Olympics and establish a direct cash relief handout program as a part of Tokyo's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. [19] Yamamoto came in third place in the election, winning 657,277 votes, or 10.72% of the vote. [20]

Filmography

References
  1. Arita, Eriko (4 March 2012). "Taro Yamamoto: Actor in the spotlight of Japan's antinuke movement". The Japan Times. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  2. 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
  3. Nikkan Sports. 山本太郎　佐賀県庁突入「知事出てこい」
  4. "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. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  5. 参議院議員選挙 新社会党が推薦・支持
  6. デイリースポーツ社 (14 June 2013). "山本太郎 市民の力で国会へ/芸能速報/デイリースポーツ online". Daily.co.jp. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  7. デイリースポーツ社. "山本太郎氏 円形脱毛４cmに広がった！/芸能/デイリースポーツ online". Daily.co.jp. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  8. デイリースポーツ社. "俳優山本太郎氏、無所属で立候補/政治/デイリースポーツ online". Daily.co.jp. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  9. デイリースポーツ社. "山本太郎出陣 円形脱毛は４ｃｍに拡大/芸能速報/デイリースポーツ online". Daily.co.jp. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  10. 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 Huffington Post (2013年11月1日). 2013年11月1日閲覧。
  11. “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” Archived 2013-11-03 at the Wayback Machine. フジニュースネットワーク (2013年11月1日). 2013年11月1日閲覧。
  12. "与野党が問題視 「政治利用なりかねず」". Archived from the original on 3 November 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  13. たけし、山本太郎に苦言「失礼だよね」
  14. 山本太郎の件で、自民党議員はわしと対決せよ！
  15. J-CASTニュース (3 December 2013). "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(1/2)". J-CASTニュース. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  16. 山本太郎『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」Powered by Ameba (in Japanese). Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  17. "平成２６年１２月２６日 政治資金規正法に基づく政治団体の届出" (PDF). 総務省. 26 December 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  18. "Mr. Taro Yamamoto "Reiwa Shinsen-gumi" justified "people in this country, a guardian, welcome to me"". Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  19. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/06/15/national/politics-diplomacy/reiwa-shinsengumi-leader-taro-yamamoto-tokyo-governor/
  20. https://www.asahi.com/senkyo/tochijisen/2020/kaihyo/
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