Taro Yamamoto
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 served as a member of the House of Councillors from 2013 to 2019 for Tokyo, initially as an independent and later as member of the People's Life Party / Liberal Party. He was a candidate in the 2020 Tokyo gubernatorial election, as a member of Reiwa Shinsengumi.
Taro Yamamoto | |
|---|---|
山本 太郎 | |
Yamamoto in 2022 | |
| Leader of Reiwa Shinsengumi | |
| Assumed office 1 April 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Member of the House of Councillors | |
| Assumed office 25 July 2022 | |
| Constituency | Tokyo |
| In office 21 July 2013 – 21 July 2019 | |
| Constituency | Tokyo |
| Member of the House of Representatives | |
| In office 31 October 2021 – 15 April 2022 | |
| Succeeded by | Mari Kushibuchi |
| Constituency | Tokyo proportional representation block |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 November 1974 Takarazuka, Hyōgo, Japan |
| Political party | Reiwa Shinsengumi (2019–present) |
| Other political affiliations | Independent (2011–2014) People's Life Party (2014–2016) Liberal Party (2016–2019) |
| Occupation | Politician |
Early life and acting career Edit
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 Edit
Independent (2011–2014) Edit
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) Edit
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.
Liberal Party (2016–2019) Edit
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) Edit
In April 2019, Yamamoto formed a new party, left-liberal populist Reiwa Shinsengumi.[19] 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.[20] Yamamoto came in third place in the election, winning 657,277 votes, or 10.72% of the vote.[21]
At the 2021 general election, Yamamoto won a seat in the House of Representatives running on the Tokyo PR list. 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.[22][23] 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.[24]
Filmography Edit
| 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 Edit
- ^ a b c Arita, Eriko (4 March 2012). "Taro Yamamoto: Actor in the spotlight of Japan's antinuke movement". The Japan Times. from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
- ^ 【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. from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
- ^ [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.
- ^ "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. from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
- ^ "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. from the original on 6 November 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
- ^ [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.
- ^ 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. from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
- ^ 山本太郎氏 円形脱毛4cmに広がった!. Daily Sports (in Japanese). from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 山本太郎出陣 円形脱毛は4cmに拡大. Daily Sports (in Japanese). from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
- ^ 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. from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
- ^ . Fuji News Network. 1 November 2013. Archived from the original on 3 November 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
- ^ [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.
- ^ 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. from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
- ^ "山本太郎の件で、自民党議員はわしと対決せよ！". from the original on 6 November 2013. Retrieved 3 November 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" [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. from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
- ^ 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). from the original on 8 April 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2016 – via Ameba.
- ^ 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. (PDF) from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
- ^ "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. from the original on 22 January 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
- ^ "Reiwa Shinsengumi leader Taro Yamamoto to run for Tokyo governor". The Japan Times. Kyodo News. 15 June 2020. from the original on 2 July 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ "開票速報｜2020都知事選（東京都知事選挙）". The Asahi Shimbun. from the original on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ "Reiwa Shinsengumi leader quits Lower House to run for Upper House seat". The AU Times. 19 April 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
- ^ . The Japan Times. 15 April 2022. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
- ^ Brzeski, Patrick (8 June 2023). "'Battle Royale' Star Causes Wild Scene in Japan's Parliament Over Controversial Immigration Bill". Retrieved 6 October 2023.
External links Edit
- Taro Yamamoto at IMDb
- Official website (in Japanese)