Sō Watanabe
Sō Watanabe (渡辺 創, Sō Watanabe; born 3 October 1977) is a Japanese politician of the Centrist Reform Alliance, who serves as a member of the House of Representatives.
Sō Watanabe | |
|---|---|
渡辺 創 | |
| Member of the House of Representatives | |
| Assumed office 1 November 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Shunsuke Takei |
| Constituency | Miyazaki 1st |
| Member of the Miyazaki Prefectural Assembly | |
| In office 30 April 2011 – 6 September 2021 | |
| Constituency | Miyazaki City |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 3 October 1977 Miyazaki, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan |
| Party | CRA (since 2026) |
| Other political affiliations | DPJ (until 2016) DP (2016-2018) CDP (2018-2026) |
| Alma mater | Niigata University |
| Website | Sō Watanabe website |
Early years
Born and raised in Miyazaki City, Miyazaki Prefecture in 1977.[1]
In March 2001, he graduated from Niigata University's Faculty of Law and In April, he entered Mainichi Shimbun. He worked at Yokohama branch, Tokyo headquarters.[1]
In 2009, he left Mainichi Shimbun to become a politician.[1]
Political career
In the 2010 House of Councillors election, Watanabe ran for Miyazaki at-large district as a DPJ endorsed but lost to LDP incumbent Shinpei Matsushita.[2]
In 2011, Watanabe ran for the Miyazaki Prefectural Assembly as a DPJ candidate and was elected for the first time.[3]
In 2015, Watanabe was re-elected in the Miyazaki Prefecture Assembly election.[4]
Watanabe left DP and join CDP on 5 February 2018.[5]
In 2019, Watanabe ran for the Miyazaki Prefectural Assembly as a CDP candidate and was re-elected.[6]
On 6 September 2021, Watanabe resigned as a member of the Miyazaki Prefectural Assembly to run for Miyazaki 1st district in the next general election. In the 2021 general election, he defeated LDP incumbent Shunsuke Takei after a close race.[7]
In the 2021 CDP presidential election, Watanabe endorsed Chinami Nishimura as a recommender.[8]
In the 2024 CDP presidential election, Watanabe endorsed Yukio Edano as a recommender.[9]
In the 2024 general election, Watanabe defeated LDP's Takei by a large margin.[10]
In 2026, CDP and Komeito merged into Centrist Reform Alliance (CRA). Watanabe joined CRA.
In the 2026 general election, Watanabe defeated LDP's Takei after a close race and hold the seat.[11] CRA candidates who won in single-member district were only 7, including Watanabe.[12][13]
In the 2026 CRA presidential election, some people expected Watanabe's candidacy but he did not run.[14]
References
- ^ a b c "Profile of Sō Watanabe". Sō Watanabe Official Website (in Japanese). Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ^ "選挙区開票結果・宮崎". The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). 11 July 2010. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ^ "宮崎県議会議員選挙". Senkyo.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ^ "宮崎県議会議員選挙". Senkyo.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ^ "立民宮崎県連あす設立". Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). 4 February 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ^ "宮崎県議選 宮崎市". NHK (in Japanese). Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ^ "衆院選 宮崎 開票速報". The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). 31 October 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ^ "立憲代表選、4陣営の推薦人は計90人 国会議員の7割固まる". The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). 19 November 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ^ "枝野幸男氏の推薦人名簿 立憲民主党代表選". The Nikkei (in Japanese). 7 September 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ^ "宮崎1区 衆議院選挙". The Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). 27 October 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ^ "宮崎1区 小選挙区【衆議院選挙】開票速報・結果". The Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). 8 February 2026. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ^ "「選挙区で受かった人にリーダーの資質」中道代表選巡り中堅・落合氏 選挙区当選者は7人". Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). 10 February 2026. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ^ "中道、小選挙区で勝ち上がった「7人の侍」 逆風はね返した勝因は". The Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). 11 February 2026. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ^ "衆院選で歴史的大敗の中道改革連合、新代表を13日に選出へ 泉健太氏、小川淳也氏、渡辺創氏ら推す声". FNN (in Japanese). 10 February 2026. Retrieved 11 March 2026.