By KEI KOBAYASHI/ Staff Writer
January 18, 2024 at 16:18 JST
Tomoko Tamura becomes the first woman to head the Japanese Communist Party. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)
The Japanese Communist Party has replaced its longtime familiar face and leader for the first time in 23 years, who gives way to the first woman to head the party.
Tomoko Tamura, 58, was named on Jan. 18 as the new JCP leader at the party convention being held in Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture.
She will replace Kazuo Shii, 69, who had served as party head since November 2000.
An Upper House member, Tamura served as a vice chair of the executive committee while also heading the JCP’s policy committee.
Shii will assume a new post that had been vacant since 2006 when Tetsuzo Fuwa stepped down as “gicho.” While the post is formally the highest in the JCP, Shii will mainly work on party ideology and diplomacy.
Shii will remain on the standing executive committee, the JCP's main decision-making body.
Akira Koike stays in his post as head of the party secretariat.
Upper House member Taku Yamazoe will take over as chair of the policy committee from Tamura.
Fuwa, 93, long considered the ideological pillar of the party, will leave the executive committee.
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