Jon Heese

Heese was born in Saskatchewan, Canada, graduated from the University of Regina in 1991.^[2] He married a Japanese woman in 1998, and became a naturalized citizen of Japan in 2007.^[3]

Prior to entering politics, Heese worked as an English language teacher and owned a bar.^[4] He has also worked as an actor, playing (fictional) American Presidents in the tokusatsu films Nihon Igai Zenbu Chinbotsu (2006) and Monster X Strikes Back: Attack the G8 Summit (2008). Heese stated he got the parts because casting directors noticed his resemblance to former President Bill Clinton.^[4]

Heese is the third naturalized citizen from Europe or North America to become a Japanese legislator, following Marutei Tsurunen, a former member of the House of Councillors from Yugawara Town, Kanagawa Prefecture, and Anthony Bianchi, a former member of the Inuyama City Council, Aichi Prefecture.^{[citation needed]}

Heese is the president of Imagineric and a member of the Tsukuba Representative Committee of the Ibaraki Foreigners' Roundtable.^{[citation needed]}

In December 2014, Heese ran as an independent candidate for the Ibaraki Prefectural Assembly election from the Tsukuba City electoral district, but was unsuccessful. In 2016, he was elected to the Tsukuba City Assembly for a third term.^{[citation needed]}

In December 2022, Heese ran for election as a member of the Ibaraki Prefectural Assembly from Tsukuba City and won.^[5]

• Nihon Igai Zenbu Chinbotsu (2006) - President Pepiton
• Monster X Strikes Back: Attack the G8 Summit (2008) - President Berger

• Anthony Bianchi
• Marutei Tsurunen