Kenta Wakabayashi
Kenta Wakabayashi | |
|---|---|
若林 健太 | |
| Member of the House of Representatives | |
| Assumed office 9 February 2026 | |
| Preceded by | Takashi Shinohara |
| Constituency | Nagano 1st |
| In office 1 November 2021 – 9 October 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Takashi Shinohara |
| Succeeded by | Takashi Shinohara |
| Constituency | Nagano 1st |
| Member of the House of Councillors | |
| In office 26 July 2010 – 25 July 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Masatoshi Wakabayashi |
| Succeeded by | Hideya Sugio |
| Constituency | Nagano at-large |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 11 January 1964 Nagano, Nagano Prefecture, Japan |
| Party | LDP |
| Parent | Masatoshi Wakabayashi (father) |
| Alma mater | Keio University Waseda University |
| Website | Kenta Wakabayashi website |
Kenta Wakabayashi (若林 健太, Kenta Wakabayashi; born 11 January 1964) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who serves as a member of the House of Representatives.[1]
Political career
In the 2010 House of Councillors election, Wakabayashi ran for Nagano at-large district (two-member district) as a successor of his father Masatoshi Wakabayashi, and was elected as the top, second elected member is DPJ Incumbent Toshimi Kitazawa, Incumbent Defense Minister.[2]
In 2012, Wakabayashi was appointed to Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs.[3]
In the 2016 House of Councillors election, Seats of Nagano at-large district were reduced from two to one. Wakabayashi was defeated by former TV anchor Hideya Sugio (DP), who ran to succeed Kitazawa. [4]
In the 2017 general election, Wakabayashi ran for Hokuriku Shinetsu PR block and could not win a seat.[5]
In 2018, he was nominated as LDP’s Nagano 1st candidate in the next general election.[6]
In the 2021 general election, Wakabayashi ran for Nagano 1st and defeated CDP Incumbent Takashi Shinohara to win his first election. Defeated Shinohara won a seat in the PR block.[7]
In the 2024 LDP presidential election, Wakabayashi endorsed Sanae Takaichi as a recommender.[8]
On October 6 2024, PM Ishiba decided not to nominate members who were suspended from their membership in the general election, and announced that 43 lawmakers, including Wakabayashi, would not be allowed to run for proportional representation block because of the involvement in the slush fund scandal.[9]
In the 2024 general election, Wakabayashi was defeated by Shinohara (CDP) and lost the election due to criticism of the slush fund scandal.[10]
In the 2026 general election, Wakabayashi defeated CRA's Shinohara to regain his seat.[11]
Scandal
When the slush fund scandal was discovered at the end of December 2023, Wakabayashi said at a press conference on January 20 2024 that he did not include 3.68 million yen in the political fund report.[12]
On 14 May 2024, the House of Representatives Political Ethics Committee unanimously passed the opposition's petition to attend and explain 44 LDP members who were involved in the slush fund scandal but did not explain themselves to the committee.[13] On 17 May 2024, the House of Councillors Political Ethics Committee unanimously passed a petition for attendance and explanation to 29 members who had not made excuses. All 73 Diet members, including Wakabayashi, refused to attend, and the ordinary Diet session was closed on 23 June 2024.[14]
References
- ^ "Kenta Wakabayashi". LDP (in Japanese). Retrieved 6 March 2026.
- ^ "選挙区開票結果・長野". The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). 11 July 2010. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
- ^ "国会議員情報：若林健太". Jiji Press (in Japanese). Retrieved 6 March 2026.
- ^ "Ex-TV anchor defeats LDP incumbent in Nagano Pref. electorate". Mainichi Shimbun. 10 July 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
- ^ "比例区候補者：北陸信越ブロック". The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). 22 October 2017. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
- ^ "参院選、選挙区で出馬せず 自民・吉田氏、後継決まる". The Nikkei (in Japanese). 28 October 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
- ^ "開票結果：選挙区：長野：衆院選2021". Jiji Press (in Japanese). 31 October 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
- ^ "自民党総裁選2024、9候補の推薦人名簿一覧180人". The Nikkei (in Japanese). 12 September 2024. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
- ^ "裏金議員43人の比例重複認めず 萩生田氏ら6人は非公認 首相表明". Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). 6 October 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
- ^ "戦い終えて 「裏金」逆風厳しかった長野1区・若林氏 吹き飛んだ組織戦 ／長野". Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). 30 October 2024. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
- ^ "愛媛２区、自民党の井原巧氏が当選". The Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). 9 February 2026. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
- ^ "「派閥幹部が責任を取らない」 368万円不記載の安倍派議員が謝罪". The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). 20 January 2024. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
- ^ "衆院政倫審での弁明、裏金議員44人全員が拒否 全会一致の議決でも". The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). 20 May 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
- ^ "裏金議員73人、政倫審に応ぜず閉会 「レッテル貼られるだけ」". The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). 24 June 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2026.