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Taro Yamamoto | |
|---|---|
山本 太郎 | |
 Yamamoto in 2025 | |
| Leader ofReiwa Shinsengumi | |
| Assumed office 1 April 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Member of theHouse of Councillors | |
| Assumed office 25 July 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Toshio Ogawa |
| Constituency | Tokyo at-large |
| In office 21 July 2013 – 21 July 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Tamayo Marukawa |
| Succeeded by | Ayaka Shiomura |
| Constituency | Tokyo at-large |
| Member of theHouse of Representatives | |
| In office 31 October 2021 – 15 April 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Multi-member district |
| Succeeded by | Mari Kushibuchi |
| Constituency | Tokyo PR |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1974-11-24)24 November 1974 (age 51) |
| Political party | Reiwa Shinsengumi (since 2019) |
| Other political affiliations | Independent (2011–2014) People's Life (2014–2016) Liberal (2016–2019) |
| Occupation | Politician |
Tarō Yamamoto (山本 太郎,Yamamoto Tarō; born 24 November 1974) is a Japanese politician and former actor, who is the founder and current leader of theanti-establishment political partyReiwa Shinsengumi. Yamamoto currently serves in theHouse of Councillors representingTokyo, and previously served in theHouse of Representatives from 2021 to 2022. He unsuccessfully ran in the2020 Tokyo gubernatorial election as a candidate under Reiwa.
Yamamoto was born inTakarazuka, Hyogo; his father died shortly after his birth, and he and his two older sisters were raised by their mother, who sold Persian carpets.[1] He said in his speech that when he was called to the principal's office when he was 11 years old and asked about his future dream, he answered, "Prime Minister".[2]
Yamamoto began his career as a television personality in 1990, appearing in dramas such asFutarikko (1996–97) andShinsengumi! (2004). He appeared in dozens of films, includingBattle Royale (2000) andMoon Child (2003), winning aBlue Ribbon Award for Best Supporting Actor for the latter. He continued appearing in films and television until 2013.
Yamamoto entered politics after theFukushima nuclear meltdown in March 2011. He announced that he "would no longer be a silent accomplice of the terrorist nation Japan", and became a protester in theanti-nuclear movement.[3] He resigned from his talent agency some time later in order to focus on activism. Yamamoto, a resident of Tokyo, flew toSaga Prefecture in July and attempted, along with a local citizens' group, to enter the governor's office to protest the restart of a power plant.[1] He chanted phrases such as, "Protect our children!", "We don't need nuclear energy!" and "Come out, Governor!". He did not get an audience with the governor, but said he was glad that he came.[4] The scene was broadcast on television, and the Saga District Public Prosecutors Office considered pressing charges against Yamamoto. Following the incident, in early 2012, Yamamoto led a petition campaign in Tokyo to hold a referendum that would barTokyo Electric Power Company from continuing to run nuclear facilities.[1]
He attempted to run for a seat in theHouse of Representatives during the2012 general election, but placed second in theTokyo 8th district and did not win a seat.[5] He then ran an independent campaign (endorsed by theNew Socialist Party[6]) to be elected to theHouse of Councillors in the2013 election,[7][8][9][10] and was elected on 21 July. He was supported in the election by the People's Life Party,Social Democratic Party andGreens Japan.
On 31 October 2013, Yamamoto handed a political letter tothe Emperor Akihito at a non-political garden party. The letter was immediately passed on to thechamberlain. Whether the letter was read by the Emperor is unknown. The letter reportedly contained his complaints about the handling of the nuclear disaster.The Huffington Post reported that the action may have violated theConstitution of Japan, since the Emperor is not allowed to involve himself in political issues.[11] TheJapanese Communist Party chairmanKazuo Shii inferred that Yamamoto "didn't understand the Constitution".[12] Various political leaders expressed their anger and disappointment in Yamamoto's alleged abuse of his legislative position,[13] as well asTakeshi Kitano, who called the incident "somewhat of an insult".[14] However, the manga artistYoshinori Kobayashi supported Yamamoto's actions.[15] On 8 November, Yamamoto received an official reprimand from the Speaker of the House of Councillors,Masaaki Yamazaki. It was also announced that he will be banned from any kind of imperial events during his entire term.
In December 2013, he promised he would mobilize a million people to lay siege to the National Diet in protest of theState Secrecy Law.[16] In the19th Tokyo gubernatorial election held in February 2014, he didn't support any specific candidate, and called for supporting candidates that oppose nuclear power.[17]
In the2014 Japanese general election, thePeople's Life Party (PLP) lost seats and was in danger of losing its qualification as a political party. After the election, Yamamoto joined the party, and the party name was changed to "People's Life Party & Taro Yamamoto and Friends."[18]
In September 2015, in a vote of security-related bills of the House of Councillors plenary session, he voted while wearing mourning garb and a rosary, and gestured to offer incense to Prime MinisterShinzo Abe and theLiberal Democratic Party.
In October 2016, the People's Life Party & Taro Yamamoto and Friends was renamed toLiberal Party in preparation of the upcoming general election in 2017. The party went into the election as an informal bloc, and most of its members chose to either run under theKibō no Tō banner or as independents.
In April 2019, theLiberal Party officially dissolved and merged into theDemocratic Party for the People. However, Yamamoto announced his intentions before the merger to form a new group, namedReiwa Shinsengumi.[19]
In the firstelection the party contested, Yamamoto lost his seat in the House of Councillors after switching his electoral district fromTokyo to the party'sNational PR list, but he led his party to win 4.55% of the vote and two seats in theHouse of Councillors. Both of the candidates who won —Yasuhiko Funago andEiko Kimura — were elected from the nationwide proportional bloc, and both were the first people with severe disabilities to be elected to the parliament.[20][21]
In June 2020, Yamamoto announced his candidacy for the2020 Tokyo gubernatorial election. His campaign was mainly based around a pledge to cancel the2020 Summer Olympics, and to also establish a 100,000 yen direct cash relief handout program as a part of Tokyo's response to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[22] Yamamoto came in third place in the election, winning 657,277 votes, or 10.72% of the vote.[23]
At the2021 general election, Yamamoto won a seat in the House of Representatives running on theTokyo PR list. His party won three seats, up from the one it held. It won seats in Tokyo, which was won by Yamamoto himself, the South Kanto proportional block, won by Ryo Tagaya, and the Kinki proportional block, which is held byAkiko Ōishi. The party also extensively co-operated with opposition parties, forming a four group pact with theConstitutional Democratic Party,Japanese Communist Party, andSocial Democratic Party. Yamamoto also withdrew from running forTokyo's 8th district and opted to run forTokyo's proportional block as a result, leaving the 8th to the CDP'sHarumi Yoshida. Reiwa Shinsengumi also withdrew seven candidates as part of the pact, meaning over 40% of its planned slate would end up not running.[24]
Yamamoto resigned his seat in the House of Representatives in April 2022, and announced his intention to increase his party's representation in the House of Councillors. He was replaced in the lower house byMari Kushibuchi.[25][26] Yamamoto won his seat, along with Reiwa gaining three councilors from 2019, leading to a total of 5 councilors after Reiwa won 4.37% of the vote. Two other councilors were elected from the nationwide proportional block.
In 2023,Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers physically held Yamamoto back as he attempted to fling himself at members desks to block an anti-refugee bill in the House of Councilors. The melee lasted several minutes, with the scene being reported on by numerous news outlets.[27]
During the campaign period for the2025 Japanese House of Councillors election, a video was posted on July 18th with him standing outside ofDiverCity Tokyo Plaza inOdaiba,Minato, Tokyo, cosplaying asQuattro Bajeena fromMobile Suit Zeta Gundam as he introduced one of the party's candidates, voice actressMaya Okamoto as she explained how she is campaigning for office to fight for the abolishment and/or reduction of the invoice system in place since 2023. However four days later,Bandai Namco Filmworks, the owners of theSunrise studio and theGundam series stated that they didn't give permission from the party to use their character and that they do not support any political candidate.[28]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | That's Cunning! Shijō Saidai no Sakusen? | Kimura Kenji | |
| 1998 | Love Letter | ||
| 1999 | Big show! Hawaii ni utaeba | ||
| 2000 | Battle Royale | Shogo Kawada | |
| 2001 | Hashire! Ichiro | ||
| 2001 | Rain of Light | ||
| 2001 | Go | Tawake | |
| 2001 | Genji: A Thousand-Year Love | ||
| 2002 | Through the Night | ||
| 2003 | Moon Child | Toshi | |
| 2003 | Get Up! | Taro | |
| 2003 | The Boat to Heaven | ||
| 2004 | Shinsengumi! | Harada Sanosuke | |
| 2004 | Akai tsuki | Makita Shoichi | |
| 2004 | A Day on the Planet | ||
| 2004 | Izo | ||
| 2005 | Princess Raccoon | Ostrich Monk | |
| 2005 | Under the Same Moon | ||
| 2009 | Kaiji | Jōji Funai | |
| 2010 | Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider OOO & W Featuring Skull: Movie War Core (Skull: Message for Double) | Seiichiro Matsui | |
| 2011 | My Way | Noda |
