Chikage Oogi
Encyclopedia
, real name real name (born 10 May 1933 as , is a Japan
ese actress and politician
. During her 30-year-long political career, she experienced some important posts. She became the first female President of the House of Councillors
in 2004.
Her pseudonymous surname is also spelled Ogi, Ōgi and Ohgi for a variety of Hepburn romanization systems. She herself uses Oogi.
at age 11. She wrote later that her experience of the air raid had convinced her to make efforts to attain peace
and national defense
.
in April 1954. Her first movie appearance was in October of that year. She retired from the revue in 1958 and married Kotaro Hayashi
, a kabuki
actor later known as Tojuro Sakata.
Oogi had been a full-time homemaker
for a year until she returned to work in a television drama on 29 October 1959, and later appeared on many television dramas and variety shows. She also hosted a popular tabloid show Sanji no Anata from 1971 to 1977. One of her co-hosts was Yoshiko Ōtaka
, who was elected to the House of Councillors in 1974.
, Oogi first elected to the House of Councillors as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party
in 1977. She was voted out in 1989, but elected again in 1993. The following year she left the LDP and joined the Japan Renewal Party
, which merged into the New Frontier Party
on 10 December 1994. The NFP torn up on 31 December 1997, Oogi became a member of the Liberal Party
, stringing along with Ichirō Ozawa
.
It was in 2000 that Oogi came to the forefront. She founded the Conservative Party, renamed the New Conservative Party
soon, and became its first leader in April. Prime Minister of Japan
Yoshiro Mori
appointed Oogi as Minister of Construction and Director General of the National Land Agency in July, and also as Minister of Transportation
and Director General of Hokkaido Development Agency in December. When these ministries and agencies merged into the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport as a result of the administrative reform of 2001, Oogi was installed as its first minister. She drew the nameboard displayed at the entrance of the building of the ministry with black ink and a brush
.
The New Conservative Party's debacle at the House of Councillors election in July 2001
heightened calls among party members for a change in leadership. Oogi resigned as party leader and was succeeded by Takeshi Noda
on 17 September 2001.
Oogi joined the Liberal Democratic Party in 2003 again. She was installed as the 26th President of the House of Councillors on 30 July 2004. She attended at the World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments held by the Inter-Parliamentary Union in September 2005. In October 2006 she made an official visit to China
.
In May 2007, Oogi announced her retirement from politics in July so that she could lead an ordinary life with her family. Her term of office expired on 28 July 2007.
of 1947. She has said that the constitution has many problems such as ignoring environmental rights, obfuscating the Self-Defense Forces
and its international contribution to keep peace
, and excessively protecting criminals while making light of crime victims' human rights. She also made a controversial remark: "The Constitution of Japan deprived Japanese women of their graces of character."
s of the candidate cities.
. She appreciated Princess Akishino for her third deliverance in this day of declining birthrate and said "We women would like to look to her as a model."
ns for international air service of Haneda Airport. Oogi's proposal was welcomed by Shintaro Ishihara
, Governor
of Tokyo.
Oogi's husband is notorious as a womanizer
as he admits. Interviewed as to his love affair with a maiko
exposed in a tabloid magazine in 2002, Oogi answered "I know that girl. She is intelligent and I favor her, too," adding "A husband not attractive to women would be boring."
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese actress and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. During her 30-year-long political career, she experienced some important posts. She became the first female President of the House of Councillors
House of Councillors
The is the upper house of the Diet of Japan. The House of Representatives is the lower house. The House of Councillors is the successor to the pre-war House of Peers. If the two houses disagree on matters of the budget, treaties, or designation of the prime minister, the House of Representatives...
in 2004.
Her pseudonymous surname is also spelled Ogi, Ōgi and Ohgi for a variety of Hepburn romanization systems. She herself uses Oogi.
Early life
Oogi was born and brought up in Kobe, Hyogo. She survived the Kobe Air RaidBombing of Kobe in World War II
On March 17, 1945, 331 American B-29 bombers launched a firebombing attack against the city of Kobe, Japan. Of the city's residents, 8,841 were confirmed to have been killed in the resulting firestorms, which destroyed an area of three square miles and included 21% of Kobe's urban area. At the...
at age 11. She wrote later that her experience of the air raid had convinced her to make efforts to attain peace
Peace
Peace is a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent conflict. Commonly understood as the absence of hostility, peace also suggests the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the...
and national defense
Defense (military)
Defense has several uses in the sphere of military application.Personal defense implies measures taken by individual soldiers in protecting themselves whether by use of protective materials such as armor, or field construction of trenches or a bunker, or by using weapons that prevent the enemy...
.
Stage career
Oogi graduated from Takarazuka Music School and joined the Takarazuka RevueTakarazuka Revue
The Takarazuka Revue is a Japanese all-female musical theater troupe based in Takarazuka, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. Women play all roles in lavish, Broadway-style productions of Western-style musicals, and sometimes stories adapted from shōjo manga and Japanese folktales. The troupe takes its name...
in April 1954. Her first movie appearance was in October of that year. She retired from the revue in 1958 and married Kotaro Hayashi
Sakata Tojuro IV
' is a Japanese kabuki actor in the Kamigata style. and is officially designated a Living National Treasure. Unlike most kabuki actors, he performs both male and female roles, and is renowned as both a skilled wagotoshi and onnagata...
, a kabuki
Kabuki
is classical Japanese dance-drama. Kabuki theatre is known for the stylization of its drama and for the elaborate make-up worn by some of its performers.The individual kanji characters, from left to right, mean sing , dance , and skill...
actor later known as Tojuro Sakata.
Oogi had been a full-time homemaker
Homemaker
Homemaking is a mainly American term for the management of a home, otherwise known as housework, housekeeping or household management...
for a year until she returned to work in a television drama on 29 October 1959, and later appeared on many television dramas and variety shows. She also hosted a popular tabloid show Sanji no Anata from 1971 to 1977. One of her co-hosts was Yoshiko Ōtaka
Yoshiko Otaka
, is a China-born Japanese actress and singer who made a career in China, Japan, Hong Kong, and the United States. By the 1940s, she became one of the Seven great singing stars...
, who was elected to the House of Councillors in 1974.
Filmography
- Kaiketsutaka Series, 1954
- Onna no Gakkō, 1955
- Hatsukoi Waltz, 1955
- Shirai Gonpachi, 1956
- Shippū! Kurama Tengu, 1956
- Hakoiri Musume to Bantō, 1956
- Koi sugata kitsune gotenKoi sugata kitsune gotenis a 1956 black and white Japanese film directed by Nobuo Nakagawa.- Cast :* Hibari Misora as Maruya, Tomone* Haruhisa Kawada as Akinobu* Senjaku Nakamura* Chieko Naniwa as Okon* Chikage Oogi as Akemi* Shunji Sakai as Heihachi* Kyu Sazanka as Fujimaru...
(恋すがた狐御殿) (1956) - Otoko no Hanamichi, 1956
- UjōUjoUxo is one of 15 parishes in Mieres, a municipality within the province and autonomous community of Asturias, in northern Spain....
, 1957 - Bibō no Miyako, 1957
- A Teapicker's Song of GoodbyeA Teapicker's Song of Goodbyeis a 1957 Japanese film directed by Ishirō Honda....
, 1957 - A Farewell to the Woman Called My SisterA Farewell to the Woman Called My Sisteris a 1957 black and white Japanese film directed by Ishirō Honda.Production designer was Iwao Akune, lighting technician was Yoshio Tanaka and sound technician was Sanya Yamamoto.-Cast:Actors include:* Akihiko Hirata* Machiko Kitagawa* Hiroshi Koizumi...
, 1957 - Hanayome wa Matteiru, 1957
- Seishun Kōro, 1957
- A Holiday in Tokyo, 1958
- Salaryman Shusse Taikōki, 1958
- Mikkokusha wa Dare ka, 1958
- Sanroku, 1962
- Mujō Hijō, 1968
- Kamigami no Fukaki Yokubō, 1968
Political career
Strenuously lobbied to run by Takeo FukudaTakeo Fukuda
was a Japanese politician and the 42d Prime Minister of Japan from December 24, 1976 to December 7, 1978.He was born in Gunma Prefecture and attended Tokyo Imperial University. Before and during World War II, he served as a bureaucrat in the Finance Ministry and as Chief Cabinet Secretary...
, Oogi first elected to the House of Councillors as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party
Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)
The , frequently abbreviated to LDP or , is a centre-right political party in Japan. It is one of the most consistently successful political parties in the democratic world. The LDP ruled almost continuously for nearly 54 years from its founding in 1955 until its defeat in the 2009 election...
in 1977. She was voted out in 1989, but elected again in 1993. The following year she left the LDP and joined the Japan Renewal Party
Japan Renewal Party
The Japan Renewal Party was a Japanese political party that existed in the early 1990s. It was founded in 1993 by 44 members of the Liberal Democratic Party led by Tsutomu Hata and Ichirō Ozawa...
, which merged into the New Frontier Party
New Frontier Party
The was a Japanese political party that existed during the mid-1990s. As a merger of several small parties, the party was ideologically diverse, with its membership ranging from moderate socialists to neoliberals and conservatives...
on 10 December 1994. The NFP torn up on 31 December 1997, Oogi became a member of the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (Japan, 1998)
The was a Japanese liberal party formed in 1998 by Ichirō Ozawa and Hirohisa Fujii. It is now defunct, having joined the Democratic Party of Japan in 2003....
, stringing along with Ichirō Ozawa
Ichiro Ozawa
is a Japanese politician. Formerly a chief secretary of the Liberal Democratic Party , he later defected from the LDP. He was the president of Japan's main opposition party, the Democratic Party of Japan , from 2006 until May 2009, when he resigned over a fund scandal, and secretary general of the...
.
It was in 2000 that Oogi came to the forefront. She founded the Conservative Party, renamed the New Conservative Party
New Conservative Party
The New Conservative Party is a now-defunct political party in Japan originally led by Hiroshi Kumagai. Kumagai and 3 other disgruntled Democratic Party of Japan members defected in December 2002 and merged with the Conservative Party of Japan , forming the New Conservative Party...
soon, and became its first leader in April. Prime Minister of Japan
Prime Minister of Japan
The is the head of government of Japan. He is appointed by the Emperor of Japan after being designated by the Diet from among its members, and must enjoy the confidence of the House of Representatives to remain in office...
Yoshiro Mori
Yoshiro Mori
is a Japanese politician who served as the 85th and 86th Prime Minister of Japan starting at 5 April 2000 ending 26 April 2001. Described as having "the heart of a flea and the brain of a shark," he was an unpopular prime minister mainly remembered today for his many gaffes and situationally...
appointed Oogi as Minister of Construction and Director General of the National Land Agency in July, and also as Minister of Transportation
Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (Japan)
The , or , is the Cabinet of Japan member in charge of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Takeshi Maeda is the current minister.-External links:*...
and Director General of Hokkaido Development Agency in December. When these ministries and agencies merged into the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport as a result of the administrative reform of 2001, Oogi was installed as its first minister. She drew the nameboard displayed at the entrance of the building of the ministry with black ink and a brush
East Asian calligraphy
East Asian calligraphy is a form of calligraphy widely practised and revered in the Sinosphere. This most often includes China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. The East Asian calligraphic tradition originated and developed from China. There is a general standardization of the various styles of...
.
The New Conservative Party's debacle at the House of Councillors election in July 2001
Japanese House of Councillors election, 2001
Elections for the Japanese House of Councillors were held in Japan on 29 July 2001. It was the first national election since Junichiro Koizumi was appointed as prime minister after Yoshiro Mori...
heightened calls among party members for a change in leadership. Oogi resigned as party leader and was succeeded by Takeshi Noda
Takeshi Noda
is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party , a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet . A native of Kumamoto, Kumamoto and graduate of the University of Tokyo he joined the Ministry of Finance in 1964. In 1972 when his father-in-law Takeo Noda died, he left the ministry to...
on 17 September 2001.
Oogi joined the Liberal Democratic Party in 2003 again. She was installed as the 26th President of the House of Councillors on 30 July 2004. She attended at the World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments held by the Inter-Parliamentary Union in September 2005. In October 2006 she made an official visit to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
.
In May 2007, Oogi announced her retirement from politics in July so that she could lead an ordinary life with her family. Her term of office expired on 28 July 2007.
Constitution
Oogi has critical views against the Constitution of JapanConstitution of Japan
The is the fundamental law of Japan. It was enacted on 3 May, 1947 as a new constitution for postwar Japan.-Outline:The constitution provides for a parliamentary system of government and guarantees certain fundamental rights...
of 1947. She has said that the constitution has many problems such as ignoring environmental rights, obfuscating the Self-Defense Forces
Japan Self-Defense Forces
The , or JSDF, occasionally referred to as JSF or SDF, are the unified military forces of Japan that were established after the end of the post–World War II Allied occupation of Japan. For most of the post-war period the JSDF was confined to the islands of Japan and not permitted to be deployed...
and its international contribution to keep peace
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
, and excessively protecting criminals while making light of crime victims' human rights. She also made a controversial remark: "The Constitution of Japan deprived Japanese women of their graces of character."
Transfer of capital functions
A suggestion to transfer some capital functions out of Tokyo came under review in 1990s to solve the problem posed by overconcentration of people in Tokyo. Oogi, who was Minister of Construction in charge of this issue, expressed opposition to the transfer in September 2000. Her opposition created conflicts with Prime Minister Mori and with the mayorMayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
s of the candidate cities.
Imperial succession
Upon Prince Hisahito's birth in September 2006, Oogi suggested that the lawmakers take a cautious attitude toward the Government's move to allow female and matrilineal succession of the Imperial ThroneChrysanthemum Throne
The is the English term used to identify the throne of the Emperor of Japan. The term can refer to very specific seating, such as the takamikura throne in the Shishin-den at Kyoto Imperial Palace....
. She appreciated Princess Akishino for her third deliverance in this day of declining birthrate and said "We women would like to look to her as a model."
Haneda Airport
In 2000, Oogi proposed that Haneda Airport expand international air service. Narita Airport, which almost monopolized international flight service to Tokyo, is so distant from central Tokyo that there has long been a strong call among Tokyoites and YokohamaYokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
ns for international air service of Haneda Airport. Oogi's proposal was welcomed by Shintaro Ishihara
Shintaro Ishihara
is a Japanese author, actor, politician and the governor of Tokyo since 1999.- Early life and artistic career :Shintarō was born in Suma-ku, Kobe. His father Kiyoshi was an employee, later a general manager, of a shipping company. Shintarō grew up in Zushi...
, Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of Tokyo.
Personal life
Oogi has two sons, Tomotaro and Hirotaro. Both of them are kabuki actors, following in their father's path. She had long hoped to have daughters or granddaughters possibly to be a Takarazuka actress. Her wish for a granddaughter came true when her younger son begot a daughter in 2002.Oogi's husband is notorious as a womanizer
Promiscuity
In humans, promiscuity refers to less discriminating casual sex with many sexual partners. The term carries a moral or religious judgement and is viewed in the context of the mainstream social ideal for sexual activity to take place within exclusive committed relationships...
as he admits. Interviewed as to his love affair with a maiko
Maiko
is a Japanese word for dancing girl and is an apprentice geisha. Maiko is also a feminine Japanese given name.-Possible writings:Maiko can be written using different kanji characters and can mean:*舞子 or 舞妓, apprentice geishaas a given name...
exposed in a tabloid magazine in 2002, Oogi answered "I know that girl. She is intelligent and I favor her, too," adding "A husband not attractive to women would be boring."
See also
- Takako DoiTakako Doiwas a prominent Japanese politician from 1980 until her retirement in 2005.Doi was born in Hyōgo Prefecture and graduated from Doshisha University, where she studied law. She was elected to the House of Representatives, the lower house of the Diet, as a member of the Japan Socialist Party in 1969,...
– The first female Speaker of the House of Representatives (1993–1996) - Tamao NakamuraTamao Nakamurais a Japanese actress. She was married to Shintaro Katsu.-Filmography:* Zenigata Heiji: Ghost Lord * Flowery Brothers...
– Oogi's sister-in-law - Shintaro KatsuShintaro Katsu, born Toshio Okumura was a Japanese actor, singer, producer, and director...
– Oogi's brother-in-law - Hisayasu NagataHisayasu Nagatawas a Japanese politician born in Nagoya City in Aichi Prefecture.- Biography :Nagata secured a B.S. from University of Tokyo in 1993, and then entered the Ministry of Finance. In 1995, he obtained an MBA from University of California, Los Angeles...
- Junichiro KoizumiJunichiro Koizumiis a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan from 2001 to 2006. He retired from politics when his term in parliament ended.Widely seen as a maverick leader of the Liberal Democratic Party , he became known as an economic reformer, focusing on Japan's government debt and the...
- List of members of the Diet of Japan
- List of the first female holders of political offices
External links
}}- Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport - Introduction by the Cabinet