Chizuko Takahashi

Chizuko Takahashi
高橋 千鶴子
Takahashi in 2022, at Naikaku Sōri Daijin Kantei
Member of the House of Representatives
In office
9 November 2003 – 9 October 2024
Preceded byZenmei Matsumoto
Succeeded byWakako Sawara
ConstituencyTohoku PR
Member of the Aomori Prefectural Assembly
In office
30 April 1999 – 29 April 2003
ConstituencyAomori City
Personal details
Born (1959-09-16) 16 September 1959
PartyCommunist
Alma materHirosaki University
Websitechiduko.gr.jp

Chizuko Takahashi (高橋 千鶴子, Takahashi Chizuko; born September 16, 1959) is a Japanese politician and a former member of House of Representatives.[1] She is a member of the Japanese Communist Party.

Early life

Takahashi was born on September 16, 1959, in Noshiro, Akita Prefecture. She has one elder sister. During her early days, Takahashi's father was training to become sushi cook and was away from home. Her mother took care of the daughters while distributing newspapers. When Takahashi entered elementary school, she and her family moved to Kosaka, opening the only sushi restaurant in the town. After graduating Hirosaki University, she became a high school teacher in Aomori.[2]

Political career

Takahashi joined the Japanese Communist Party in 1983. Starting with the House of Councillors by-election in 1991, she unsuccessfully ran for national elections six times. In 1999, Takahashi was elected to Aomori Prefectural Assembly. In 2003 Japanese general election, she was elected from Tohoku proportional representation block. She was reelected in 2005 and 2009.

In 2012 general election, Takahashi received an endorsement from JA Group Aomori, which consists of Japan Agricultural Cooperatives in Aomori Prefecture.[3] This was the first time that the JA endorsed a candidate from the Communist Party. Takahashi and JA signed a policy agreement confirming the firm opposition to Japan entering Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations.[4] She was reelected in this election.

After completing 7 terms, she ran unsuccessfully in 2024 general election. This was the first time the Communist Party failed to secure a seat in Tohoku proportional representation block.[5]

In December 2024, the Communist Party announced that Takahashi will run in Tohoku proportional representation block for the next general election.[6]

References

  1. ^ "Members". House of Representatives of Japan. Archived from the original on 22 May 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2010.
  2. ^ "プロフィール" [Profile]. 高橋ちづ子 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-12-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ "JA青森グループ 共産党候補を初推薦" [JA Aomori Group endorses a Communist Party candidate for the first time]. Shimbun Akahata (in Japanese). 2012-12-02. Retrieved 2025-12-27.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ "JA青森中央会、共産候補を初推薦" [JA Aomori Central Committee endorses Communist Party candidate for the first time]. MSN産経ニュース (in Japanese). 2012-12-01. Archived from the original on 2012-12-01. Retrieved 2025-12-27.
  5. ^ "比例東北落選の高橋さん「申し訳ない。悔しい」" [Takahashi, who ran unsuccessfully in Tohoku proportional block: "I am sorry. Regrettable."]. Tō-Ō Nippō (in Japanese). 2024-10-28. Archived from the original on 2024-12-03. Retrieved 2025-12-27.
  6. ^ "次期衆院選比例東北に元議員の高橋千鶴子氏擁立 共産青森県委が発表". Kahoku Shimpō (in Japanese). 2024-12-07. Retrieved 2025-12-28.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)