青島健太

Kenta Aoshima is a Japanese politician and former professional baseball player currently serving as a member of the House of Councillors. After a career as an infielder for the Yakult Swallows, he transitioned into sports journalism, broadcasting, and academia, serving as a guest professor at several universities. Aoshima entered politics in 2019, running unsuccessfully for Governor of Saitama before winning a seat in the 2022 House of Councillors election representing the Nippon Ishin no Kai party. His political career has been marked by his focus on sports policy and regional development, though he has also faced scrutiny regarding his past ties to the Unification Church and recent controversies involving the use of political funds for personal entertainment expenses.