Kureha Otsuki (born 16 October 1983) is a Japanese politician and reporter who has served as a member of the House of Representatives from Hokkaido 4th district since 2024. Prior to serving from the 4th district, she served from Hokkaido's proportional representation block from 2021 to 2024.

Early life and Career

Kureha Otsuki was born in Otaru, Hokkaido on 16 October 1983.[1] After graduating from Hokkaido Otaru Choryo High School, she would travel to the United Kingdom in order to study journalism at Birmingham City University.[1]

After graduating from university and returning to Japan, Otsuki would find work as an opposition reporter for Fuji Television's political affairs department.[1]

Political Career

Kureha Otsuki's political career began in July of 2021, following the resignation of Hiranao Honda, a previous representative of Hokkaido's proportional representation block, who resigned after reports of him making inappropriate comments during a private meeting of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan.[2][3] After Honda announced he was not seeking reelection,[4] Oksuki was selected by the CDP to appear on the electoral list, while also simultaneously mounting a campaign in Hokkaido's 4th district.[5] In Hokkaido's 4th district, Otsuki was also endorsed by the Japanese Communist Party and Social Democratic Party of Japan.[6][7]

During the 2021 Japanese general election, Otsuki lost to Liberal Democratic Party candidate Hiroyuki Nakamura by 696 votes, but still was able to secure a seat from Hokkaido's proportional representation block.[8][9][10]

Otsuki supported Hokkaido 8th district representative Seiji Osaka during the 2021 Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan presidential election.[11]

In 2023, Otsuki would speak at a plenary session of the House of Representatives, becoming the first single-term representative to be selected for a speech by the CDP. During the speech, Otsuki argued that women faced difficulty being active in politics due to "old-fashioned" leadership.[12]

Otsuki endorsed Saitama 5th district representative Yukio Edano during the 2024 Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan presidential election.[13]

During the 2024 election, Otsuki would stand for re-election to the House of Representatives, once again contesting Hokkaido's 4th district. She would win the election, defeating incumbent LDP candidate Hiroyuki Nakamura with a plurality of 45% of the vote.[14]

Electoral History

2024 Hokkaido 4th district election[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
CDP Kureha Otsuki 101,484 45.1 Decrease4.7
LDP Hiroyuki Nakamura (elected by PR) 94,090 41.8 Decrease 8.4
JCP Akemi Sasaki 19,063 8.5
Independent Kayo Saitō 10,322 4.6
Turnout 57.32 Decrease3.82
CDP gain from LDP
2021 Hokkaido 4th district election[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
LDP Hiroyuki Nakamura (endorsed by Kōmeitō 109,326 50.16 Increase4.24
CDP Kureha Otsuki (endorsed by JCP and SDP) (elected by PR) 108,630 49.84 Increase9.85
Majority 696 0.32 Decrease8,62
Turnout 61.14 Decrease0.80
LDP hold Swing Decrease4.31

References

  1. ^ a b c "おおつきくれは（大築紅葉）| 新しい世代から、新しい政治を。" (in Japanese). 18 August 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
  2. ^ "「14歳と性交で逮捕は不当」発言は「自分だ」　立憲民主党の本多平直氏認める". TOKYOWeb（東京新聞） (in Japanese). 6 July 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  3. ^ "Official Gazette" No. 544, page 7 July 30, 2021 issue "Resignation of Member of Parliament"
  4. ^ "立憲離党し辞職の本多氏、次期衆院選で道4区から不出馬 [立憲]：朝日新聞デジタル". www.asahi.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  5. ^ 共同通信 (16 August 2021). "フジテレビ元記者が出馬表明 立民、衆院選北海道4区 ｜ 共同通信". 共同通信 (in Japanese). Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  6. ^ 佐野格 (13 October 2021). "共産党、22選挙区で候補取り下げ　野党一本化目的に". 毎日新聞 (in Japanese). Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  7. ^ "共・候補者取り下げ 自・中村氏と立・大築氏の一騎打ち". 小樽ジャーナル (in Japanese). Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  8. ^ 日本放送協会. "（速報）衆院選 比例北海道ブロック 立民・大築氏が当選確実｜NHK 北海道のニュース". NHK NEWS WEB (in Japanese). Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  9. ^ "衆議院選挙2021 北海道(札幌・函館など)開票速報・選挙結果". 衆議院選挙2021特設サイト (in Japanese). NHK. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  10. ^ "【2021年 衆院選】北海道ブロック(比例区)開票速報". 衆議院選挙（2021年総選挙）特設サイト (in Japanese). 朝日新聞社. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  11. ^ "立憲代表選、4陣営の推薦人は計90人　国会議員の7割固まる". 朝日新聞 (in Japanese). 19 November 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
  12. ^ "党幹部級登壇が定石の代表質問 立憲、当選1回の子育て女性議員起用：朝日新聞デジタル". 朝日新聞デジタル (in Japanese). 25 January 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
  13. ^ "枝野幸男氏の推薦人名簿　立憲民主党代表選". 日本経済新聞 (in Japanese). 7 September 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
  14. ^ "衆議院選挙 北海道４区 立民・大築紅葉氏が２回目の当選｜NHK 北海道のニュース". NHK NEWS WEB (in Japanese). Retrieved 11 March 2025.
  15. ^ 小選挙区 北海道 (in Japanese). NHK. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  16. ^ 開票速報 小選挙区：北海道 - 2021衆議 (in Japanese). NHK. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
Allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kureha_Otsuki
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