Yasushi Adachi (Japanese: 足立康史, romanized: Adachi Yasushi, 14 October 1965 in Osaka) is a former Japanese politician of Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Innovation Party).[1] He has served as a member of the House of Representatives,[2] having been elected three times—in 2012, 2014, and 2021.[3]
Yasushi Adachi | |
|---|---|
足立 康史 | |
 Adachi in 2021 | |
| Member of the House of Representatives | |
| In office 17 December 2012 – 9 October 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Nobumori Ōtani |
| Succeeded by | Kei Hagihara |
| Constituency | Osaka 9th (2012–2014; 2021–2024) Kinki PR (2014–2021) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 14 October 1965 Izumiōtsu, Osaka, Japan |
| Political party | Independent (since 2024) |
| Other political affiliations | Your (2011–2012) JRP (2011–2014) JIP 2014 (2014–2016) JIP (2016–2024) |
| Education | Osaka Ibaraki High School |
| Alma mater | Kyoto University (Bachelor, Master) Columbia University (Master) |
After the 2021 House of Representatives election, Adachi was appointed by co-party leader Baba Nobuyuki as Chairperson of the Diet Caucus Policy Affairs Research Council, effectively making him the leader of all policy affairs within the party.[4] Adachi advocates for making free education a constitutional right, arguing that it could help slow the decline in birthrate.[1][5]
Early life
editYasushi Adachi was born in Izumiotsu, Osaka Prefecture and grew up in Ibaraki, Osaka Prefecture. After graduating from Osaka Ibaraki High School, he went on to Kyoto University, where he received both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Civil Engineering. In 1990, he joined the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI). In 1998, he received his Master's degree in Public administration from Columbia University. In 2013, he retired from the Ministry after the Great East Japan Earthquake.[6]
Political career
editAdachi was first elected to the House of Representatives in the 46th general election, running for the Japan Restoration Party in Osaka 9th district (Japanese: 大阪府第9区).
Following a split within the JRP, over policy differences between the right-winged faction led by former Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara and the moderate Osaka Governor Toru Hashimoto, Adachi joined the Hashimoto-led Japan Innovation Party (a merger with the centre-left Unity Party/Yui-no-To, led by Kenji Eda), alongside most of his peers in Osaka.[7]
In the 47th general election for the House of Representatives, Adachi was defeated by Kenji Harada (Japanese: 原田憲治) of the Liberal Democratic Party, and was resurrected and elected from Kinki proportional representation block.
Upon the split within the JIP, caused by differences over electoral pact negotiation with the centre-left Democratic Party of Japan, Adachi once again joined the anti-coalition party, Initiatives from Osaka (おおさか維新の会/ Osaka Ishin-No-Kai), led by Toru Hashimoto. Initiatives from Osaka is renamed Nippon Ishin-No-Kai (日本維新の会) while the pro-coalition faction led by Kenji Eda merged with the Democratic Party of Japan, the predecessor to the Constitutional Democratic Party.[7]
In the 48th general election for the House of Representatives in 2017, he was again narrowly defeated by Harada, this time by about 2,000 votes, and was resurrected and re-elected from the Kinki proportional representation block.
In the 49th general election for the House of Representatives in 2021, he defeated his rival Harada by about 50,000 votes, in a 19.6-point swing a margin large enough to ensure Harada was not resurrected and re-elected on proportional votes.
References
edit- ^ a b "LDP proposes expanding range of free education by amending Article 26". 25 May 2017 – via Japan Times Online.
- ^ "Members_A". www.shugiin.go.jp.
- ^ "足立康史君". www.shugiin.go.jp.
- ^ 【維新deGO! 】維新新体制発足！2人の政調会長の役割とは？ キーワードは…" 戦う政調会 ", retrieved 13 January 2022
- ^ Japan mulls making free higher education constitutional right Nikkei asian review, 25 May 2017
- ^ "あだち康史の略歴 Profile". 衆議院議員 あだち康史 Web (in Japanese). 12 April 2013. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
- ^ a b "本物維新とニセ維新の本家争い 安倍「１強」で液状化する野党（木村正人） – 個人". Yahoo!ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 13 January 2022.