The is the highest position within the Japanese Communist Party. The current chairperson is Tomoko Tamura, who took office on 18 January 2024.
The chairperson is elected by the Central Committee of the Japanese Communist Party, which also elects other members of the executive committee including the vice-chairpersons, and the head of the secretariat.
The Japanese Communist party was founded on 15 July 1922. The original leadership position of the party was the General Affairs Chief Secretary. The first General Affairs Chief Secretary was Arakawa Katsuzà Â.
The party was outlawed by the Japanese government in 1923, and was not refounded until 1945 after the end of World War II, and political reforms under the American Occupation rule. When the party was reformed, the leadership title was changed to General Secretary.
In 1970 the leadership title was changed once again, this time to Chairperson, which is the currently used title.