榛葉賀津也

Kazuya Shimba is a veteran Japanese politician serving as a Member of the House of Councillors, currently in his fifth term. A graduate of Otterbein University in the United States with further studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, he began his political career as a town councilor in Kikugawa. Throughout his career, he has held significant government and party roles, including serving as State Minister of Defense and State Minister for Foreign Affairs. As a key figure in the Democratic Party for the People, he has served as the party's Secretary-General since its formation in 2020. Shimba is known for his advocacy of fiscal stimulus, constitutional reform—including the formal recognition of the Self-Defense Forces—and a pragmatic approach to national security and energy policy. He is also recognized for his active engagement in parliamentary diplomacy and his long-standing support for the Japanese pro-wrestling industry.