Sō Watanabe
Japanese politician
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sō Watanabe (渡辺 創, Sō Watanabe; born 3 October 1977) is a Japanese politician of the Centrist Reform Alliance, who serves as a member of the House of Representatives.
Sō Watanabe | |
|---|---|
渡辺 創 | |
| Member of the House of Representatives | |
| Assumed office 1 November 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Shunsuke Takei |
| Constituency | Miyazaki 1st |
| Member of the Miyazaki Prefectural Assembly | |
| In office 30 April 2011 – 6 September 2021 | |
| Constituency | Miyazaki City |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 3 October 1977 Miyazaki, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan |
| Party | CRA (since 2026) |
| Other political affiliations | DPJ (until 2016) DP (2016-2018) CDP (2018-2026) |
| Alma mater | Niigata University |
| Website | Sō Watanabe website |
Early years
Born and raised in Miyazaki City, Miyazaki Prefecture in 1977.[1]
In March 2001, he graduated from Niigata University's Faculty of Law and In April, he entered Mainichi Shimbun. He worked at Yokohama branch, Tokyo headquarters.[1]
In 2009, he left Mainichi Shimbun to become a politician.[1]
Political career
In the 2010 House of Councillors election, Watanabe ran for Miyazaki at-large district as a DPJ endorsed but lost to LDP incumbent Shinpei Matsushita.[2]
In 2011, Watanabe ran for the Miyazaki Prefectural Assembly as a DPJ candidate and was elected for the first time.[3]
In 2015, Watanabe was re-elected in the Miyazaki Prefecture Assembly election.[4]
Watanabe left DP and join CDP on 5 February 2018.[5]
In 2019, Watanabe ran for the Miyazaki Prefectural Assembly as a CDP candidate and was re-elected.[6]
On 6 September 2021, Watanabe resigned as a member of the Miyazaki Prefectural Assembly to run for Miyazaki 1st district in the next general election. In the 2021 general election, he defeated LDP incumbent Shunsuke Takei after a close race.[7]
In the 2021 CDP presidential election, Watanabe endorsed Chinami Nishimura as a recommender.[8]
In the 2024 CDP presidential election, Watanabe endorsed Yukio Edano as a recommender.[9]
In the 2024 general election, Watanabe defeated LDP's Takei by a large margin.[10]
In 2026, CDP and Komeito merged into Centrist Reform Alliance (CRA). Watanabe joined CRA.
In the 2026 general election, Watanabe defeated LDP's Takei after a close race and hold the seat.[11] CRA candidates who won in single-member district were only 7, including Watanabe.[12][13]
In the 2026 CRA presidential election, some people expected Watanabe's candidacy but he did not run.[14]