Wakako Hironaka

Background

HIRONAKA, Wakako was born on May 11, 1934 in Tokyo, Japan.

Education

Ochanomizu Women’s University, English Bachelor of Arts, 1957. Brandeis University, Wien International Scholar, 1958-1960, Master of Arts in Anthropology, 1968.

Career

Her husband is Heisuke Hironaka, a mathematician. Between 1993-1994, she was State Minister, Director-General of the Environment Agency in the Hosokawa Cabinet. In the past years, she served several times as Vice President of the Democratic Party of Japan.

Mississippi

Hironaka received a Bachelor of Arts in English from Ochanomizu Women"s University and an Master of Arts in Anthropology from Brandeis University. She has written several books, essays, translations, and critiques on education, culture, society, and women"s issues. Party Affiliation and Position Standing

Officer, Democratic Party of Japan

Membership, House Committees Chair, Research Committee on Economy, Industry and Employment

Member, Committee on Education, Culture, and Science.

Membership, International Organizations Vice-Chair, Global Environmental Action (GEA)

Vice-Chair, GLOBE Japan (Global Legislators Organization for a Balanced Environment)

Company-Chair, Council of Parliamentarians, Micro Cr Summit

Member, WCFSD (World Commission on Forests and Sustainable Development)

Member, Earth Charter Commission

Member, Earth Charter International Council

Chair, Committee for Promoting the Earth Charter in Japan and the Asia Pacific

Member, International Scientific Advisory Board (ISAB), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

Chair, Professional Golf Association (Parliamentarians for Global Action) Japan National Committee

Member, Governing Council, TERI The Energy Research Institute, New Delhi, India

Former Roles

September

2005 – September 2006: Vice President, Democratic Party of Japan

June 1996 - January 1997: Chairperson, House Special Committee on Science and Technology

August

1995 - June 1996: Shadow Cabinet Minister of Environment Policy, New Frontier Party August

1993 - April 1994: State Minister, Director General of the Environment Agency

April

1993 - August 1993: President, GLOBE Japan (Global Legislators Organization for a Balanced Environment).

Achievements

• Member, United Nations Environment Programme Sasakawa Prize Jury.

Politics

Her political affiliation is with the Democratic Party of Japan.

Membership

She is a member of the House of Councillors (Upper House of the Japanese Diet). Wakako Hironaka has been a member of the House of Councillors since 1986, and currently serving her fourth term. Councillor Hironaka is currently Director of the Research Committee on International Affairs and Global Warming Issues and a Member of both the Committee on Environment and Official Development Assistance and Related Matters.

She has been active internationally, as Vice Chair of Global Environmental Action (GEA), an organizing member of Micro Cr Summit, a member of World Commission on Forests and Sustainable Development, Earth Charter Commission, and Teri (The Energy and Resourceｓ Institute).

Connections

[]