Kenta Izumi

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kenta Izumi
泉 健太
Izumi in 2022
Leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party
Assumed office
30 November 2021
DeputySeiji Osaka
Chinami Nishimura
Kiyomi Tsujimoto
Preceded byYukio Edano
Member of the House of Representatives
Assumed office
26 April 2016
Preceded byKensuke Miyazaki
ConstituencyKyoto-3rd
In office
10 November 2003 – 12 April 2016
Preceded byShigefumi Okuyama
Constituency
Personal details
Born (1974-07-29) 29 July 1974 (age 49)
Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
Political partyCDP
Other political
affiliations		DPJ (2000–2016, merger)
DP (2016–2017, split)
Kibō (2017–2018)
DPP (2018–2020)
Alma materRitsumeikan University(LLB)
Signature
WebsiteOfficial website

Kenta Izumi (泉 健太, Izumi Kenta, born 29 July 1974) is a Japanese politician who has been the leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP or CDPJ) since 30 November 2021. He is also a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature), currently for the Kyoto 3rd district.

Biography[edit]

A native of Sapporo and graduate of Ritsumeikan University,[1] he was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 2003 after an unsuccessful run in 2000.[2]

Izumi was originally a member of the Democratic Party of Japan. He later served as Diet affairs chief of Kibō no Tō.[3][4] He also adhered to the Democratic Party for the People until 2020, when he joined the Constitutional Democratic Party.[5]

Izumi was elected as the leader of the CDP in the 2021 Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan leadership election on 30 November 2021.[6][7][8][9][5]

Political views[edit]

Izumi has been described as centrist and conservative.[10]

Views on constitutional amendments[edit]

While opposing reforming Article 9 of the Constitution of Japan, he is not against constitutional revision per se.[11] With regards to national security, he rejects the adoption of nuclear weapons and enemy base strike capabilities.[12]

Cultural liberalism[edit]

Izumi favours same-sex marriage and an LGBT equality law.[13] He also supports reducing dependency on nuclear energy and welcoming greater quotas of foreign workers. He endorses the possibility for women to ascend to the Imperial Throne.[14]

Foreign policy[edit]

Izumi has supported Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's policy of supporting Ukraine following the Russian invasion of the country, and praised his 2023 visit to the country, while urging him to quickly return to Japan.[15] He later criticised Kishida's gifting of a rice paddles to the Ukrainian government as failing to reflect the urgency of the war.[16] He has further condemned Russian leader Vladimir Putin for threatening to use nuclear weapons against Ukraine,[17] and met with Ukrainian ambassador Sergiy Korsunsky, who thanked him for raising money to be donated to Ukraine.[18]

Izumi is a supporter of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, and has called for Japan to "pave the way" to see the treaty enacted globally. He has expressed concerns regarding the stationing of American missiles in Japan, and called for continued negotiation between Japanese and Chinese governments to reduce tensions in East Asia. Izumi has noted the cultural ties between Japan and China, saying, "We have long historical, cultural ties. We are neighbors." He is a supporter of Japan–United States relations,[17] but has criticised the U.S.–Japan Status of Forces Agreement and called for its revision.[19]

References[edit]

  1. ^ 株式会社財界さっぽろ. "泉健太・立憲民主党代表「北海道から平和と繁栄のために声を上げる!」 | 2022年 | 話題の人 | 財界さっぽろ". 財界さっぽろ ONLINE (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-12-11.
  2. ^ "泉健太氏単独インタビュー「小学生から政治家にあこがれ」：朝日新聞デジタル". 朝日新聞デジタル (in Japanese). 2021-11-24. Retrieved 2022-12-11.
  3. ^ "Finance Ministry unit says it will probe Moritomo document-tampering allegation". The Japan Times. 2 March 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  4. ^ Osaki, Tomohiro (14 November 2017). "Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike quits as head of opposition Kibo no To". The Japan Times. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Kenta Izumi elected leader of Japan's main opposition in runoff". Nikkei Asia. 30 November 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  6. ^ "Izumi Elected Japan Opposition CDP's New Leader". Nippon.com. 30 November 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  7. ^ Johnston, Eric. "Japan's main opposition party seeks to rebuild under new leader Kenta Izumi". The Japan Times. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  8. ^ "Izumi elected leader of Japan's main opposition in runoff vote". The Mainichi. 30 November 2021. Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  9. ^ "Japan's largest opposition elects new leader". NHK WORLD News. 30 November 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  10. ^ "Editorial: New leader of Japan's opposition CDP faces rocky road to rejuvenate party". The Mainichi. 1 December 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2021. Izumi, 47, is a conservative, centrist young leader
  11. ^ "候補者詳細｜候補者アンケート｜zero選挙2021（衆議院選挙）｜日本テレビ".
  12. ^ "立憲 近畿 泉健太 | 第49回衆院選".
  13. ^ "[Nhk衆議院選挙]京都市伏見区・向日市など京都３区の候補者アンケート - 衆院選2021 NHK".
  14. ^ "立憲 近畿 泉健太 第49回衆院選 毎日新聞". mainichi.jp (in Japanese). Mainichi Shimbun. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  15. ^ Russell, Graham; McCurry, Justin (21 March 2023). "A tale of two visits: Kishida and Xi tread starkly different paths on Ukraine". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  16. ^ Furukawa, Shu; Abe, Shihoko (25 March 2023). "Opposition parties attack PM Kishida for 'victory' gift to Ukraine leader". Mainichi Shimbun. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  17. ^ a b Lee, Jessica J. (23 March 2022). "Japan's Izumi makes first international appearance, draws firm contrast with hawks". Responsible Statecraft. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  18. ^ "Japan residents donate $17 million to relief fund for Ukraine". The Japan Times. 1 March 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  19. ^ Johnston, Eric (21 January 2022). "Decades on, text governing U.S. forces in Japan is yet to be revised". The Japan Times. Retrieved 11 January 2024.

External links[edit]

House of Representatives of Japan
Preceded by Member of the House of Representatives
from Kyoto 3rd district
2016– 		Incumbent
Preceded by
N/A
 Member of the House of Representatives
from Kinki proportional representation block
2012–2014 		Succeeded by
N/A
Preceded by Member of the House of Representatives
from Kyoto 3rd district
2003–2012 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Parliamentary Secretary of the Cabinet Office
2009–2010
Served alongside: Kenji Tamura, Keisuke Tsumura 		Succeeded by


Stub icon

This article about a Japanese politician born in the 1970s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kenta_Izumi&oldid=1215981335"