Profile

Shizuka Kamei

Shizuka Kamei is a member of the House of Representatives, elected from the constituency of Hiroshima 6 - Cities of Mihara, Onomichi, In'noshima, Fuchu, Miyoshi and Shobara, Counties of Mitsugi, Sera, Jinseki, Konu, Futami and Hiba. His current positions include: Chairman of the Diet Members' League for the Abolition of the Death Penalty, Japan; Chairman of the Lawmakers' Coalition of Creating Beautiful Japan, Chairman of the Diet Members' League for Promoting Creation of Pleasant Scenery, Chairman of the Lawmakers' Coalition for Promotion of Stratosheric Platforms Project, Chairman of the Diet Members' League for Promoting the Use of Mega-floats.
Kamei has the 6th dan level in a Japanese martial art, Aikido. His brother, Ikuo Kamei, is a member of the House of Councillors. He enjoys playing golf and oil painting. In the spring of 2001, he held a private exhibition of his art works. His motto is 'Always be sincere'.

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Publications

Nippon Gekiteki Daikaizo
(Interviewed by 'Kamei Shizuka Wo Kakomu Josei No Kai')
July 2003, Fuso-sha, \1500

Han'ei No Scenario - Utzukushiku, Chikarazuyoi Nihon Wo Tsukuru Tameni
(Co-written with Eita Namikawa)
February 2003, Chukyo Shuppan-sha, \1,400

Shikei Haishi Ron
July 2002, Kaden-sha, \800

Readings on Shizuka Kamei

Seikai Daimeiso---Shizuka Kamei
Eiji Oshita, Tokuma Bunko, \571

Nagata-cho Big Bang no Shikakenin
Eiji Oshita, Shogakkan Bunko, \638

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Biography

1936	Born the youngest of the four with two sisters and a brother in Kawakita-cho, Shobara-shi, Hiroshima Pref. After graduating from Shudo Junior High School, Kamei proceeded to Shudo Senior High School. When he was in the 11th grade (aged 17), he protested against school's decision to charge its students for certificate of enrollment, which students need in order to get student fare on commuter pass. He was expelled for distributing flyers in objecting to the school's decision. Having been dismissed from Shudo High School, Kamei went to Tokyo, where he was admitted to Oizumi Metropolitan Senior High School, thanks to the principal's compassion for his deed. He spent the rest of his high school days there and graduated from Oizumi High.
1956	Entered University of Tokyo (Faculty of Economics). Kamei lived in the university's Komaba Dormitory. Besides his scholarship money, he earned his living by working part-time jobs such as tutoring, waiting tables at a cabaret, doing night guard at Toyo Genzo-sho (film developer). At about the same time, he became intrigued by Aikido. Through this particular martial art, he met a number of people who had great influence on his somewhat left-leaning tendency views. It was around this time that he did extended reading on Heihachiro Oshio and Nanshu Saigo, both of whom dedicated their lives to alleviate people in distress. He was immensely influenced by these two.
1960	Graduated from Faculty of Economics, University of Tokyo and joined Befu Chemical Industry Co., L.td (currently Sumitomo Seika Chemicals Co., Ltd). Having observed that the police was weak in dealing with the demonstrators against the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty in 1960, Kamei felt the strong need to make the Japanese law enforcement more powerful and set his mind to sign up with the police force. When he quit Befu Chemical Industry and started to study to enter the police force, he was diagnosed with cancer, which fortunately turned out to only be a false alarm.
1962	Joined the National Police Agency. Positions Kamei assumed include Director of Police Administration Department, Tottori Prefectural Police Headquarters and Section Chief of Investigation Division 2, Criminal Investigation Department, Saitama Prefectural Police Headquarters.
1971	Became leftist-extremists crime specialty director at Security Bureau, the National Police Agency. Kamei was the first one ever to assume this position. He took the lead in investigating the cases such as Narita Airport incident, Asama-sanso incident that Coalition Red Army members committed and the shooting rampage at Tel Aviv airport committed by Japanese Red Army members.
1977	Retired after serving as Commissioner of Security Bureau at the National Police Agency and Investigator at Secretariat the Director General of the National Police Agency, Kamei decided to run for a seat in the House of Representatives with his retirement money of 3.5 million yen. He went around putting up his own posters
1978	Contested a seat in parliamentary election for the first time. Despite the unkind speculation that Kamei was merely a minor candidate, he was elected with the votes from his ardent supporters.
1979	Elected as a member of the House of Representatives consecutively for the second time.
1983	Elected as a member of the House of Representatives consecutively for the third time.
1985	Assumed the position of State Secretary of Transport.
1986	Elected as a member of the House of Representatives consecutively for the fourth time. Formed a group, Kokka Kihonmondai Doshi Kai (Comrades for National Fundamental Issues) and became the Chairman of the group.
1988	Appointed as Director of Transportation Division, Policy Research Council, Liberal Democratic Party.
1989	Formed Jiyu Kakushun Renmei (Liberal Reformist League) in April. In hopes of eliminating factional power politics from LDP's Presidential election and party personnel decisions, Kamei persuaded an independent candidate besides the one that was supported by the faction executives to enter the election. As a result of this action, he was ousted from his faction.
1990	Elected as a member of the House of Representatives consecutively for the fifth time. Appointed as Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in the House of Representatives.
1991	Assumed the position of Director of Commerce and Industry Division, LDP's Policy Research Council.
1992	Became the Acting Chairman of Policy Research, Liberal Democratic Party.
1993	1993 Elected as a member of the House of Representatives consecutively for the sixth time. Appointed as the Chairman of Party Organization Committee. In August this year, the LDP-led Cabinet collapsed, and eight non-LDP parties and political factions installed the Hosokawa coalition government.
1994	Kamei worked tirelessly to topple the Hosokawa administration and establish three-sided Murayama Cabinet by LDP, the Socialist Party and Sakigake New Harbinger Party. Appointed as Minister of Transport.
1995	Became Chairman of LDP's Party Organization and Public Relations Headquarters.
1996	Assumed the position of Chairman of the Federation of Hiroshima Prefecture Liberal Democratic Party Branches. Elected as a member of the House of Representatives consecutively for the seventh time. Appointed as Minister of Construction in the Hashimoto Cabinet.
1997	Kamei left then-Mitsuzuka faction with 21 fellow Diet members in July and formed a cross-faction group for policy-making, Japan Revival Research Group, with Taro Nakayama as Chairman. Kamei is the incumbent Executive Secretary.
1999	Established a policy study group, Shishuikai, with lawmakers of former Nakasone faction in March and assumed the position of Acting Chairman. Within LDP, Kamei was appointed as Chairman of Policy Research Council in the Obuchi Cabinet.
2000	Reappointed as Chairman of LDP's Policy Research Council (the Mori Cabinet). Elected as a member of the House of Representatives consecutively for the eighth time.
2001	Became Chairman of "the Diet Members' League for the Abolition of the Death Penalty, Japan".

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