Kaname Tsutsumi
Japanese politician
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Kaname Tsutsumi (堤 かなめ, Tsutsumi Kaname; born 27 October 1960) is a Japanese politician, who serves as a mayor of Ōnojō.
Kyushu PR (2024–2025)
Kaname Tsutsumi | |
|---|---|
堤 かなめ | |
| Mayor of Ōnojō | |
| Assumed office 12 September 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Muneji Imoto |
| Member of the House of Representatives | |
| In office 1 November 2021 – 5 August 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Yoshiaki Harada |
| Succeeded by | Keisuke Maruo |
| Constituency | Fukuoka 5th (2021–2024) Kyushu PR (2024–2025) |
| Member of the Fukuoka Prefectural Assembly | |
| In office 30 April 2011 – 2021 | |
| Constituency | Hakata-ku, Fukuoka |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 27 October 1960 Dazaifu, Fukuoka, Japan |
| Party | Independent |
Other political affiliations | DPJ (2011–2016) DP (2016–2017) CDP (2017–2025) |
| Alma mater | Kyushu University |
| Website | Kaname Tsutsumi website |
Early years
Born and raised in Dazaifu, Fukuoka Prefecture in 1965.[1]
In March 1983, Tsutsumi graduated from the Faculty of Humanities, Kyushu University.[1]
In March 1991, Tsutsumi completed the Master's program in Sociology at the Graduate School of Humanities, Kyushu University. (Degree: Master of Arts).[1]
From April 1991 to March 1993, Tsutsumi pursued doctoral studies in the same department (but left there without a Ph.D. degree).[1]
In April 1993, Tsutsumi was appointed as a Full-time Lecturer at Kyushu International University. In April 1998, she promoted to associate professor. In April 2001, she promoted to Professor. From 2005 to 2008, she served as a professor at Kyushu Women's University.[1]
As a specialist in gender issues, Tsutsumi dedicated her career to academic research and social activism. Her major initiatives include:
- 1997: Founded the Asian Women's Center, an organization dedicated to supporting women and children who have survived abuse.
- April 2000: Established the Fukuoka Gender Research Institute.
Political career
In the 2010 House of Councillors election, Tsutsumi ran for Fukuoka at-large district as an Independent endorsed by DPJ and SDP but lost.[2]
In 2011, Tsutsumi ran for the Fukuoka Prefectural Assembly as a DPJ candidate and was elected for the first time.[3]
In 2015, Tsutsumi was re-elected in the Fukuoka Prefecture Assembly election.[4]
In 2019, Tsutsumi ran for the Fukuoka Prefectural Assembly as a CDP candidate and was re-elected without a vote.[5]
On 17 April 2021, Tsutsumi announced her candidacy for Fukuoka 5th district in the next general election.[6]
In the 2021 general election, Tsutsumi defeated LDP incumbent Yoshiaki Harada party because some organizations which support LDP endorsed Wataru Kurihara, not Harada.[7][8][9][10]
In the 2021 CDP presidential election, Tsutsumi endorsed Seiji Osaka as a recommender.[11]
In the 2024 CDP presidential election, Tsutsumi endorsed Yoshihiko Noda as a recommender.[12]
In the 2024 general election, Tsutsumi lost to LDP's Kurihara and won a seat in Kyushu PR.[13]
On 5 August 2025, Tsutsumi left CDP and resigned as a member of the House of Representatives to be ready for the Ōnojō mayoral election.[14][15]
On 7 September 2025, Tsutsumi defeated Keiji Itō, endorsed by LDP and Komeito and was elected to the mayor.[16][17]