Banri Kaieda facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Banri Kaieda
海江田 万里
Kaieda in 2023
Vice Speaker of the House of Representatives
In office 10 November 2021 – 9 October 2024
Monarch	Naruhito
Speaker	Hiroyuki Hosoda Fukushiro Nukaga
Preceded by	Hirotaka Akamatsu
Succeeded by	Kōichirō Genba
President of the Democratic Party of Japan
In office 25 December 2012 – 14 December 2014
Preceded by	Yoshihiko Noda
Succeeded by	Katsuya Okada
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
In office 14 January 2011 – 2 September 2011
Prime Minister	Naoto Kan
Preceded by	Akihiro Ohata
Succeeded by	Yoshio Hachiro
Parliamentary seats Member of the House of Representatives for Tokyo 1st district Incumbent Assumed office November 2024 Preceded by Miki Yamada In office 22 October 2017 – 31 October 2021 Preceded by Miki Yamada Succeeded by Miki Yamada In office 30 August 2009 – 16 December 2012 Preceded by Kaoru Yosano Succeeded by Miki Yamada In office 25 June 2000 – 11 September 2005 Preceded by Kaoru Yosano Succeeded by Kaoru Yosano In office 18 July 1993 – 20 October 1996 Preceded by Kikuko Suzuki Succeeded by Constituency abolished Constituency 1st district (Multi-member) Member of the House of Representatives for Tokyo PR block In office 31 October 2021 – 9 October 2024 Preceded by Akihiro Matsuo In office 16 December 2012 – 14 December 2014 Preceded by Mitsuaki Takeda Succeeded by Mitsuaki Takeda In office 20 October 1996 – 25 June 2000 Preceded by Constituency established Succeeded by Yoshio Suzuki
Personal details
Born	(1949-02-26) 26 February 1949 (age 76) Tokyo, Japan
Political party	CDP
Other political affiliations	JNP (1992–1994) DP 1996 (1996–1998) DPJ (1998–2016) DP 2016 (2016–2017)
Alma mater	Keio University
Signature
Website	Official website: http://kaiedabanri.jp/

Banri Kaieda (海江田 万里, Kaieda Banri, born 26 February 1949) is a Japanese politician. He has been the Vice Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan since 2021. He is a member of the House of Representatives of Japan, which is like one of the main parts of Japan's parliament. From 2012 to 2014, he was also the leader of the Democratic Party of Japan. He used to be a minister in the government led by Prime Minister Naoto Kan.

Early Life and Education

Banri Kaieda was born and grew up in Suginami, a part of Tokyo, Japan. His father was a newspaper reporter who wrote about China and Taiwan. Because of this, Banri was named after the Great Wall of China, which is called "Banri no Chōjō" in Japanese.

He went to Keio University, where he studied political science. He also learned English, German, and Chinese. Before becoming a politician, he was known as a television personality. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, he appeared on TV. He had roles in comedy shows and also worked as a serious news anchor. He hosted a Saturday evening news program on TV Tokyo from 1989 to 1991.

Political Journey

Before he was elected, Kaieda worked as an economic expert. He also served as a secretary for a member of the House of Councillors. This is another part of Japan's parliament.

Starting in the House of Representatives

In 1993, Banri Kaieda won his first election to the House of Representatives. He was first a member of the Japan New Party. After this party ended, he helped start the Democratic Party of Japan in 1996.

In the 1996 election, he lost his local seat in Tokyo. However, he still kept a seat through a special system called "proportional representation." He won his local seat back in the 2000 and 2003 elections. But in the 2005 election, he lost both his local seat and his proportional representation seat. This meant he was out of the House of Representatives for a short time.

Role in the DPJ Government

Kaieda with Yukiya Amano (left) in 2011

Kaieda at a conference on nuclear safety in 2011

In the 2009 general election, Kaieda won his Tokyo local seat again. This election was important because the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) won enough seats to form the government.

In September 2010, Kaieda became the Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy. In this role, he encouraged the Bank of Japan to buy foreign money. This was done to stop the Japanese yen from becoming too strong.

In January 2011, Prime Minister Naoto Kan chose Kaieda to lead the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. A big event happened in March 2011: the Fukushima disaster. After this, some problems within the ministry became clear. Kaieda decided to step down as economy minister in August to take responsibility.

After Prime Minister Kan resigned in August 2011, Kaieda tried to become the next leader. He lost to Yoshihiko Noda in a vote.

In the 2012 election, the DPJ lost many seats. Kaieda lost his local seat but kept a seat through proportional representation.

Leading the Opposition Party

After the 2012 election, the DPJ leader, Yoshihiko Noda, resigned. Banri Kaieda was then elected as the new president of the DPJ on December 25, 2012. He won against Sumio Mabuchi.

In the 2013 election for the House of Councillors, the DPJ faced another defeat. Despite this, Kaieda continued to lead the party.

In the 2014 election, Kaieda lost his local seat again. He then resigned as the leader of the DPJ. Katsuya Okada took over as the party president.

Joining the Constitutional Democratic Party

In 2017, Banri Kaieda joined a new party called the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan. This happened after the previous Democratic Party split up.

In the 2017 general election, he won his Tokyo local seat back after a close race. In the 2021 general election, he lost his local seat but was able to keep a seat through proportional representation. He was reelected in the 2024 general election.

See also

In Spanish: Banri Kaieda para niños