Aiko Shimajiri

Japanese politician

島尻安伊子

Minister of state for Okinawa and Northern Territories affairs
Minister of state for science and technology policy
Minister of state for space policy
Minister in charge of ocean policy and territorial issues
Minister in charge of information technology policy
Minister in charge of "Cool Japan" strategyIn office
7 October 2015 – 3 August 2016Prime MinisterShinzo AbePreceded byShunichi YamaguchiSucceeded byYōsuke TsuruhoMember of the House of Representatives

Incumbent

Assumed office
3 November 2021ConstituencyOkinawa 3rdMember of the House of CouncillorsIn office
27 April 2007 – 25 July 2016ConstituencyOkinawa at-largeMember of the Naha City CouncilIn office
2004–2007 Personal detailsBorn (1965-03-04) 4 March 1965 (age 59)
Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, JapanPolitical partyLiberal DemocraticOther political
affiliationsDemocratic
(2004-2005)Alma materSophia University

Aiko Shimajiri (島尻安伊子, Shimajiri Aiko, born March 4, 1965) is a Japanese politician, a Liberal Democrat member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature)^[1] who was elected for the first time in 2007 and re-elected in 2010 in Okinawa Prefecture constituency.^[2] Shimajiri was appointed the Minister of State for Okinawa and Northern Territories Affairs in the cabinet reshuffle on October 7, 2015, and is one of 3 women serving in Shinzo Abe's cabinet.^[3]

In an interview following her appointment as the minister of state, Shimajiri stated that she will not deal with issues regarding the construction of new U.S. military facilities in Okinawa.^[4]

Shimajiri lost her Diet seat to former Ginowan, Okinawa mayor Yoichi Iha, a critic of the US military presence in Okinawa supported by a coalition of opposition parties, in the 2016 Japanese House of Councillors election. This was viewed by some analysts as a setback for the proposed relocation of Futenma.^[5]

References

^ "Shimajiri Aiko | Liberal Democratic Party of Japan". Archived from the original on 2015-11-09. Retrieved 2015-10-28.
^ "Ms.SHIMAJIRI Aiko：House of Councillors". Archived from the original on 2016-01-11. Retrieved 2015-10-28.
^ "List of Ministers (The Cabinet) | Prime Minister of Japan and His Cabinet".
^ Yoshida, Reiji (October 28, 2015). "Okinawa affairs minister says Futenma, U.S. military issues outside her mandate". Japan Times.
^ Johnston, Eric (10 July 2016). "Okinawan minister Shimajiri ousted from Upper House by former Ginowan mayor". The Japan Times. Retrieved 12 July 2016.