is a Japanese politician of Yà «shi no Kai, who serves as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (the national legislature of Japan). He represents à Âita 1st district and was a member of the Democratic Party of Japan until its dissolution. A native of à Âita and graduate of the University of Tokyo, he ran unsuccessfully for the governorship of à Âita Prefecture in 2003. In the same year, he ran for the House of Representatives as an independent and was elected for the first time.