Yōko Kamikawa

Yōko Kamikawa (上川 陽子, Kamikawa Yōko, 1 March 1953) is a Japanese politician and former think-tank researcher, currently serving as the Minister of Justice since September 2020. Kamikawa has previously served who served as Minister of State for Gender Equality and Social Affairs in the cabinets of Shinzō Abe and Yasuo Fukuda. Kamikawa was also elected as Minister of Justice in Prime Minister Abe's party. She is a member of the House of Representatives and the Liberal Democratic Party.

Yōko Kamikawa
上川 陽子
Minister of Justice
Incumbent
Assumed office 16 September 2020
Prime Minister	Yoshihide Suga
Preceded by	Masako Mori
In office 3 August 2017 – 2 October 2018
Prime Minister	Shinzō Abe
Preceded by	Katsutoshi Kaneda
Succeeded by	Takashi Yamashita
In office 20 October 2014 – 7 October 2015
Prime Minister	Shinzō Abe
Preceded by	Midori Matsushima
Succeeded by	Mitsuhide Iwaki
Member of the Japanese House of Representatives
Incumbent
Assumed office 16 December 2012
Preceded by	Seishū Makino
Constituency	Shizuoka 1st district
In office 11 September 2005 – 30 August 2009
Preceded by	Seishū Makino
Succeeded by	Seishū Makino
Constituency	Shizuoka 1st district
In office 9 November 2003 – 11 September 2005
Constituency	Tōkai PR
In office 25 June 2000 – 9 November 2003
Preceded by	Yoshinori Oguchi
Succeeded by	Seishū Makino
Constituency	Shizuoka 1st district
Personal details
Born	1 March 1953 Shizuoka, Japan
Political party	Liberal Democratic Party
Education	University of Tokyo (BA) Harvard University (MPA)

Born in the city of Shizuoka in Shizuoka Prefecture, she graduated from the University of Tokyo in 1977. In 1988 she also received a masters degree in public administration from John F. Kennedy School of Government in Harvard University. She was elected for the first time in June 2000.

During her time in office, Kamikawa ordered sixteen executions, the highest among justice ministers since 1993.[1]

Scandals

Kamikawa was involved in a brief scandal in 2007. Her campaign was criticized for not reporting some campaign loans. This was dismissed shortly after as an act of oversight rather than intentional.

Declining Birth Rate Work

Kamikawa was placed in charge of the declining birth rate of Japan in 2007. She advocated for a more flexible lifestyle that allowed both a career and a family.

References

1. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/07/26/national/crime-legal/kamikawa-ordered-16-executions-highest-among-justice-ministers-since-1993/#.W1lJMWNryP8

• "Minister of State for Regulatory Reform". Retrieved September 30, 2007.