Uryu Hirano

Uryu Hirano
平野 雨龍
Born
Suzuko Ogino

(1994-01-31) January 31, 1994
Chiba, Chiba prefecture
Other namesSuzuko Hirano
OrganizationUryu-kai
Known forJapan and Hong Kong activism
Political partyindependent

Suzuko Ogino, (Japanese: 荻野 鈴子;[1] born 31 January 1994) known by her stage name Uryu Hirano (平野 雨龍) and Suzuko Hirano (平野 鈴子) before 2021, is a Japanese model and political activist. She is the representative of the social organization "Uryu-kai".[2]

Hirano came to public attention following the 2019 Hong Kong pro-democracy movement and has been described as Japan's leading figure opposing the Extradition Bill to China, Taiwanese media occasionally referring to Hirano as the "Anti-Extradition Goddess."[3] She has been active in advocating for the protection of Uyghur human rights and a review of Japan's immigration policies toward Chinese nationals. Her activities have been reported in media of both Taiwan and Hong Kong.[3]

Hirano ran as an independent candidate from the Tokyo constituency in the 2025 Japanese House of Councillors election, becoming the youngest candidate in the race under a campaign focusing on strengthening restrictions on Chinese immigration and deepening relations with Taiwan and Hong Kong.[4] Although did not reach the vote threshold for being elected, she received 235,411 votes, placing 14th out of 32 candidates and getting the highest among all independent candidates.[2]

Political activism

Hirano had visited Hong Kong several times before the 2019 anti-extradition bill protests began, and claims to have many friends there. She expressed deep affection for the city, often saying that she loved Hong Kong's beauty—especially the night view of Victoria Harbour.[5][6][7] Through Twitter and other social media platforms, Hirano learned about the ongoing protests and, after watching activist Agnes Chow explain the 2019 extradition bill on television, she decided to start protesting. At the age of 25 Hirano joined the "Emergency Action to Protect Hong Kong’s Freedom and Democracy" rally in Shibuya on 13 June 2019 — her first-ever participation in a demonstration. The next day, upon learning that another protest was being held six hours later in Nagoya, she left her work, took the Tōkaidō Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kanayama station and gave a speech at the rally in front of the station. The translated version of her speech was later uploaded online and viewed over 400,000 times. Hirano stated that if the amendment were passed, "Hong Kong would no longer be Hong Kong," expressing concern that the Chinese Communist Party might expand its influence over Taiwan, East Asia, and even as far as Okinawa and Tokyo.[7][5][8]

Hirano organized her first demonstration against the extradition bill on 29 June 2019 in Tokyo.[5] She declared that she would hold weekly "Solidarity Actions to Defend Hong Kong with the World" every Saturday, marching from Hibiya Park to Tokyo Station. Hirano started declining modelling jobs to focus on activism and produced banners at her own expense. Participation numbers were often smaller than expected, leading her to lament Japan's general indifference toward politics. Nonetheless, Hirano stated that she would never regret standing with Hong Kong and that she was even prepared to die to defend it.[8][9][6][10]。Hirano also voiced anger toward mainland Chinese who erased the slogan "Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of Our Times" written on ema plaques at shrines or discouraged others from supporting the protests.[11][12]

In addition to organising marches, Hirano used social media to raise awareness about the situation in Hong Kong, conducted fundraising campaigns, and participated in the "#eye4hk" challenge by posting a selfie covering her right eye.[11] Her online support drew widespread attention, and her Instagram followers tripled within an hour.[3] On 11 August 2019, Hirano attended Comiket, where she and several international students cosplayed Hong Kong protesters in helmets and masks.[13] On 6 September, Hirano attended a Hong Kong press event, where she criticised the police for an indiscriminate arrest of a Japanese national on Prince Edward station on 31 August and denying consular contact. She also said she had been at Prince Edward station on 3 September and later learned on Twitter that a 21-year-old protester had suffered a cervical spine injury, which enraged her deeply. Declaring her resolve to "fight thoroughly alongside the people of Hong Kong," Hirano said she had been frequently attacked and even threatened with death by Wumao netizens.[14][15] In July 2019, Hirano launched a fundraising campaign in Japan, successfully raising ¥1.7 million (approximately HK$100,000) by early November. The funds were donated to the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund in Hong Kong.[16] Hirano attempted to enter Hong Kong in June 2024, but was denied entry under Article 11 of the Immigration Ordinance and deported.[17]

Elections

Hirano ran as an independent candidate in July 2025 House of Councillors election from the Tokyo constituency, campaigning under the slogan "A Heisei-born woman for the National Diet!". Although she did not reach the vote count threshold to get elected,[18] she received 235,411 votes, placing 14th out of 32 candidates, getting the highest vote count among all independent candidates without party backing.[2]

In the 2026 Japanese general election she ran for a seat in the House of Representatives in the Ōita 3rd district, challenging former Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya. She ended up third with 14.5% of the vote.

References

  1. ^ "第２７回参議院議員通常選挙結果調（速報）" (PDF). 総務省. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2025-07-26. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
  2. ^ a b c "平野雨龍（ヒラノウリュウ）｜政治家情報｜選挙ドットコム". 選挙ドットコム (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2025-09-18. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  3. ^ a b c "「日本反送中第一人」 和服模特兒IG粉絲1小時暴增3倍". 自由電子報 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 2019-08-21. Archived from the original on 2019-09-03. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
  4. ^ 黃信維（コウ・シンイ）. "独占インタビュー》中国人からの妨害にも屈せず――「反送中」第一人者・平野雨龍氏、日台注目の2025参院選に最年少で挑む | 黃信維（コウ・シンイ） | ニュース". japan.storm.mg (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-11-04.
  5. ^ a b c "なぜ、私は日本で香港を支援するのか". JAPAN Forward (in Japanese). 2019-07-05. Archived from the original on 2019-09-15. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
  6. ^ a b "日模東京每周辦反送中遊行　至《逃犯條例》撤回為止". 立場新聞 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 2019-07-07. Archived from the original on 2019-08-14. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
  7. ^ a b "「反送中」陰霾 日人重新了解香港命運共同體". 明報周刊 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 2019-08-26. Archived from the original on 2021-03-06. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
  8. ^ a b "蘋人誌： 與港人同行 日模活出武士道 平野鈴子". 香港蘋果日報 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 2019-08-08. Retrieved 2019-09-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  9. ^ Takahashi, Ryusei (2019-08-26). "Japan conspicuously silent as protests and violent crackdown roil Hong Kong". 日本時報（網上版）. Archived from the original on 2019-09-14. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
  10. ^ "我願意為了守護香港而死！日本女模自發辦集會「撐」香港". 自由電子報 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 2019-07-06. Archived from the original on 2019-08-20. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
  11. ^ a b "神社求「光復香港」遭改「一個中國」 日模特兒：不要破壞日本 - 國際 - 自由時報電子報". 自由電子報 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on 2019-09-03. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
  12. ^ "香港之路 21萬人牽手響應". 香港蘋果日報 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 2019-08-25. Archived from the original on 2019-08-27. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
  13. ^ "【逃犯條例】平野鈴子Cosplay香港示威者 頭盔口罩寫滿標語". 香港01 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 2019-08-12. Archived from the original on 2019-09-03. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
  14. ^ "眾新聞 | 民間記者會：五大訴求只撤修例是「糖衣毒藥」 籲美通過《香港人權與民主法案》". 眾新聞 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 2019-09-06. Archived from the original on 2021-07-01. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
  15. ^ "【逃犯條例】民間記者會批撤回修例「以退為進」　日本模特兒反修例接死亡恐嚇". 明報 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 2019-09-06. Archived from the original on 2019-09-15. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
  16. ^ "平野鈴子捐10萬助612基金". 蘋果日報 (香港). 2019-11-03. Archived from the original on 2020-01-02. Retrieved 2020-01-02.
  17. ^ "香港入境拒否 - 平野雨龍（ヒラノウリュウ） ｜ 選挙ドットコム". 選挙ドットコム (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2025-07-31. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  18. ^ "東京選挙区、無所属の平野雨龍氏が落選…政治団体代表". 読売新聞オンライン (in Japanese). 2025-07-21. Archived from the original on 2025-07-20. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
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