Shintaro Ishihara

Who is Shintaro Ishihara?

Shintaro Ishihara is a Japanese politician and author who was Governor of Tokyo from 1999 to 2012.

His arts career included a prize-winning novel, best-sellers and work also in theater, film and journalism. His 1989 book, The Japan That Can Say No, co-authored with Sony chairman Akio Morita, called on the authors' countrymen to stand up to the United States.

After an early career in the arts, he served for more than 25 years in the Parliament, leaving after the Tokyo subway attack in 1995. He subsequently served as Governor of Tokyo from April 1999 to October 2012, resigning to briefly co-lead the Sunrise Party, and then the Japan Restoration Party. He was elected to the Japanese lower house in the 2012 general election.