Junko Mihara

Junko Mihara (三原 じゅん子, Mihara Junko, born 13 September 1964) is a Japanese politician, former singer, and actress.

Junko Mihara
三原 じゅん子
Member of the House of Councillors
Assumed office
28 July 2016
Serving with Shinsuke Miura, Yuichi Mayama and Kenji Nakanishi
ConstituencyKanagawa at-large district
Member of the House of Councillors
In office
2010–2016
ConstituencyProportional representation
Personal details
Born (1964-09-13) 13 September 1964
Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan
NationalityJapan
Political partyLiberal Democratic Party
Spouse(s)Masahiro Matsunaga (1990–1999)
Nobuya "Koala" Miyatani (1999–2007)
Websitehttp://www.miharajunco.org/

Entertainment career

Mihara made her debut as a teenager in the 1979 television series Kinpachi-sensei, and began a singing career in 1980. Her first hit sold more than 300,000 copies.[1]

Mihara underwent treatment for cervical cancer later in her life, and established a nursing home in March 2010 prior to her political debut.[1]

Political career

Mihara ran in the House of Councillors election in July 2010 as a proportional candidate of the Liberal Democratic Party[2] and won, campaigning on her experience with women's health issues.[1] She first appeared in the Diet on 30 July 2010.[3] She was elected to a seat representing the Kanagawa at-large district in the July 2016 election.[4]

Positions within the LDP:[5]

  • Deputy Director, Health, Labor and Welfare Division of LDP
  • Deputy chairman, Committee on Organizations Involved with Labor of LDP
  • Acting Director, Public Speeches Division of LDP
  • Vice-Chairman, Committee on Organizations Involved with Health and Welfare of LDP

Controversies

Mihara is in favor of visits to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine.[6]

In March 2015, when speaking about dealing with tax evasion she urged Prime Minister Shinzō Abe to promote hakkō ichiu, a slogan meaning "the world under one roof", meaning the world united under the Japanese empire.[7][8]

References
  1. Narioka, Kosaku (13 July 2010). "LDP's Celebrity Winner Eyes Serious Role". Wall Street Journal Japan Real Time. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  2. Actress Junko Mihara to run in upper house election April 10, 2010 Japan Today Retrieved 2 June 2016
  3. Martin, Alex DPJ, Kan in hot seat as Diet opens Japan Times Retrieved 2 June 2016
  4. "Actress Mihara wins seat for LDP in Kanagawa Prefecture". Japan Times. Kyodo. 10 July 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  5. Profile on LDP's website jimin.jp/english/profile/members/114704.html LDP Members – Junko Mihara Retrieved 2 June 2016
  6. 三原じゅん子議員が靖国神社を参拝 Aug. 15, 2010 Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese)
  7. LDP lawmaker urges Abe to spread wartime slogan March 17, 2015 Asahi Shimbun Retrieved 2 June 2016
  8. Wartime slogan should stay buried March 24, 2015 Japan Times Retrieved 2 June 2016


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.