Kenta Suzuki
Governor of Akita Prefecture since 2025
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kenta Suzuki (Japanese: 鈴木健太, Hepburn: Suzuki Kenta; born 24 August 1975)[1] is a Japanese politician currently serving as Governor of Akita Prefecture as an independent politician.[2]
Kenta Suzuki | |
|---|---|
鈴木 健太 | |
Suzuki in 2025 | |
| Governor of Akita Prefecture | |
| Assumed office 20 April 2025 | |
| Monarch | Naruhito |
| Preceded by | Norihisa Satake |
| Vice-Speaker of the Akita Prefectural Assembly | |
| In office 25 May 2023 – 16 November 2024 | |
| Member of the Akita Prefectural Assembly | |
| In office 2015 – 26 November 2024 | |
| Constituency | Akita City |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 August 1975 |
| Party | Independent (since 2025) |
Other political affiliations | LDP (2015–2025) |
| Alma mater | Kyoto University |
He previously served as a member of the Akita Prefectural Assembly as the 73rd Vice-Speaker and was a member of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force.[2]
Biography
Suzuki was born in Osaka Prefecture[2] and grew up in Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture[3][1] His family ran a newspaper shop,[4] and he played baseball from elementary school through high school.[4] While retaking his university entrance exams, he survived the Kobe earthquake, aiding in the rescue of elderly people from the rubble.[4]
He graduated from the Faculty of Law at Kyoto University in 2000 and joined the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF).[3] Suzuki later attended the Officer Candidate School and was assigned to the 16th Infantry Regiment. He was also deployed to the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations in Timor-Leste and Iraq.[5]
In 2006, Suzuki retired from the JGSDF and moved to Akita City, the hometown of his wife, whom he met at the Officer Candidate School.[6] Subsequently, he studied at the prefectural library and obtained a judicial scrivener's licence.[4] In 2015, Suzuki ran for the Akita City constituency in the Akita Prefectural Assembly election as a member of the conservative Liberal Democratic Party,[6] and won two of his three political races.[6]
In February 2021, it was reported that he was considering running in the Akita Prefectural Gubernatorial election,[6] but he declined to run in a later statement.[7]
He also served as Vice-Speaker of the Prefectural Assembly between 2023 and 2024.[3][8]
In November 2024, Suzuki announced his candidacy for the 2025 Akita Prefectural Gubernatorial election upon the expiration of his term at the prefectural assembly.[9] He resigned from his seat after winning the election, and left the Liberal Democratic Party in January 2025.[10][11]
In the election, he defeated former Akita Vice Governor Kazuzo Saruta and others,[1] winning his first election for Governor of Akita.[6]