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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C5%8Dki_%C5%8Czora

https://www.linkedin.com/in/koki-ozora-0178091b7/?originalSubdomain=jp 

Kōki Ōzora (大空幸星, Ōzora Kōki, born 26 November 1998) is a Japanese social activist and politician serving as Member of the House of Representatives since 2024. A member of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), he is best known for creating Anata no Ibasho [jp], a chat consultation app intended to prevent loneliness experienced by young people. Before entering electoral politics, Ōzora worked in the Cabinet Secretariat's Study Group on Grasping the Reality of Loneliness and Isolation, and worked with Children and Families Agency, specializing in youth loneliness. At the age of 26, he is currently the youngest member of the National Diet, having been elected in the 2024 general election.

Biography

[edit]

Early life

[edit]

Kōki Ōzora was born on 26 November 1998 in Ehime Prefecture, graduating from the Faculty of Policy Management at Keio University (SFC).[1] While at university, he joined a seminar ran by the Fukushima Prefectural Police and conducted research on measures to combat loneliness in Japan.[2] Ōzora says that he was neglected by his parents and he considered suicide several times while in high school, but that a supportive teacher helped and encouraged him, describing coming across him as “a miracle” that saved his life.[3][4][5]

Anata no Ibasho

[edit]

In 2020, during his time at university, Ōzora founded the non-profit chat consultation service, A Place For You, otherwise known as Your Place To Be (Anata no Ibasho [jp]; あなたのいばしょ), the first such service in Japan that is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and free of charge.[6] He said he founded the service, which is volunteer-run, to help create "a society where people can reliably access trustworthy people" and to help prevent loneliness amongst young people.[6][7] By July 2024, it had handled over 1 million consultations.[8] With approximately 1,000 counselors in 32 countries around the world, it is the largest chat consultation service in Japan, handling up to approximately 3,000 consultations per day.[9]

"You don't need dreams or goals. Just living is enough for life. I'm not special. Anyone can be active. I don't want to change society. I just can't stand not taking action."

- Kōki Ōzora, 2022[10]

In April 2021 Ōzora called for the creation of a Minister for Measures to Combat Loneliness and Isolation; he personally delivered the proposal to then-Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato.[11] In February 2021, the Suga government established a new "Minister for Measures against Loneliness and Isolation" and a "Loneliness and Isolation Measures Office" within in the Cabinet Secretariat.[12] The Loneliness, Isolation and Loneliness Prevention Act was later enacted in May 2021.[13] Ōzora says his efforts was inspired by the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Loneliness as well as the work of House of Commons member Jo Cox.[14]

Ōzora would go on to work with the Cabinet Secretariat's Study Group on Grasping the Reality of Loneliness and Isolation, later collaborating with Children and Families Agency to help with youth loneliness, which by then had become his speciality.[11]

By 2023, Anata no Ibasho was listed as a registered service by the Ministry of Health.[15]

After founding Anata no Ibasho, Ōzora was hoping to pursue graduate studies in the United Kingdom.[16]

Political career

[edit]
External video
video icon Ōzora campaign video filmed during the 2024 general election, October 10, 2024, 00:54, YouTube

In October 2024, Ōzora ran in the 2024 Japanese general election in Tokyo's 15th district, as a member Liberal Democratic Party. Ōzora, who had previously worked with the LDP-led governments of Yoshihide Suga and Fumio Kishida in his anti-loneliness efforts, announced his candidacy in September.[17] He was joined on the campaign trail by Shinjiro Koizumi, who had come in third place in the LDP leadership election and had since been made Chair of the party’s Election Strategy Committee.[18] He was also supported by Akie Abe, the widow of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, as well as LDP President and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.[19][20]

Ōzora lost in the single-seat constituency, coming in third place (the winner was Natsumi Sakai).[21][22] However, Ōzora was also running in the proportional representation block for Tokyo. As the LDP won 23.6% of the vote in Tokyo, Ōzora was one of 5 LDP candidates who won a seat in the Diet from Tokyo.[23] At the age of 25, Ōzora became the youngest member of the Diet.[24] The Sankei Shimbun erroneously reported that Ōzora was the youngest member in the history of the House of Representatives (the title actually belonged to Yoko Hara, who was 25 years and 4 months old when she was elected in 2000).[25] The article was later revised.[26] He took office on 11 November 2024.[27]

In 2025 he was made Secretary-General of the LDP’s Project Team for Lowering the Candidate Age.[28]

Ōzora was implicated in the gift certificate scandal, in which Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba gave newly elected LDP MPs gift certificates at a dinner in March 2025. He stated that he immediately returned the gift certificate, worth about ¥100,000, to Ishiba’s office.[29]

He toured his local constituency with newly appointed Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi in May 2025.[30]

Political positions

[edit]
Ōzora in June 2024.

Ōzora has been critical of opposition parties before entering politics.[citation needed]

On social issues, he is opposed to the concept of a “female Emperor” and did not give a response when asked by NHK in a candidate survey if he supports same-sex marriage or allowing married couples to have separate surnames. He believes increasing the incomes of young people is the most effective way to increase the low birthrate.[31]

He believes in maintaining nuclear power as a means of energy supply in Japan.[31]

Ōzora has suggested that proactive fiscal spending should take precedence over fiscal discipline. Ōzora believes in maintaining the consumption tax at the current rate of 10%, as of 2025.[31]

He is in favor of amending Article 9 of the Constitution to explicitly state the existence of the Self-Defense Forces. Regarding strengthening defense capabilities, he has stated that bolstering the armed forces is necessary but costs should be kept in check.[31] Ōzora considered China to be an adversary of Japan.[32] While he opposes Japan possessing nuclear weapons of its own, he believes that nuclear sharing should be considered.[32]

Like Shinjiro Koizumi, Ōzora does not support a ban on corporate donations to political parties. He supported the My Number card integration reforms implemented by then-Digital Minister Kono Taro during the Fumio Kishida administration.[32]

Personal life

[edit]

Ōzora has a pet rabbit, a mixed breed he found at a supermarket, named Harp.[33] He lives in Koto Ward of the Kantō region.[34]

Awards

[edit]

In August 2023, he was selected by Forbes as one of Japan's "30 Under 30 Who Are Changing the World".[35]

Electoral history

[edit]

‡‡ - Ran and won in the Tokyo PR district election

2024[36]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%

CDPNatsumi Sakai66,79127.5Decrease1.5

IndependentGenki Sudo65,66627.1Increase9.7

LDPKōki Ōzora ‡‡62,77125.9

IndependentYui Kanazawa32,44213.4

JCPAzuma Kozutsumi15,0496.2
Turnout
57.58Increase16.88

CDP hold

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "＜人生相談＞学業、病気…すべて請け負うのがつらい 回答・大空幸星さん（NPO理事長）：東京新聞デジタル". 東京新聞デジタル (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  2. ^ 編集局 (2022-03-01). "現役慶大生にNPO法人を聞く 大空幸星さんインタビュー | 慶應塾生新聞デジタル" (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  3. ^ "大空幸星さんと話す「夢も目的もいらない。生きるだけで十分な人生」のこと【今会いたい、同世代の活動者たち】". メンズノンノウェブ | MEN'S NON-NO WEB (in Japanese). 2022-08-02. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  4. ^ "Koki Ozara, Japan". www.who.int. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  5. ^ World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific (2021-10-22). People of the Western Pacific: Koki Ozara, Japan. Retrieved 2025-06-13 – via YouTube.
  6. ^ Jump up to:a b "日本ダイアローグ第1弾：「変化の時代を切り拓く 若手・女性社会起業家に注目！」". UNDP (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2024-09-26. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  7. ^ Wakatsuki, Selina Wang,Rebecca Wright,Yoko (2020-11-29). "In Japan, more people died from suicide last month than from Covid in all of 2020". CNN. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  8. ^ "孤独・孤立対策を強化 24時間相談窓口 品川区とNPO法人が協定｜TOKYO MX+（プラス）". s.mxtv.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  9. ^ "無料・匿名で24時間365日「あなたのいばしょ」で相談できます。". 生駒市公式ホームページ (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  10. ^ "大空幸星さんと話す「夢も目的もいらない。生きるだけで十分な人生」のこと【今会いたい、同世代の活動者たち". Mensnonno. Mensnonno. 2 August 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  11. ^ Jump up to:a b "「望まない孤独」対策、日本が主導を ＮＰＯ法人「あなたのいばしょ」理事長・大空幸星さんに聞く【政界ＷＥＢ】：時事ドットコム". 時事ドットコム (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  12. ^ "孤独担当相、設置はしたけれど 問われる政権の本気度". 毎日新聞 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  13. ^ "Supporting Japanese people affected by severe social isolation: A case study". www.oecd.org. 2025-03-31. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  14. ^ Ōzora, Kōki [@ozorakoki] (June 15, 2021). "5年前の今日。イギリスで1人の下院議員が暗殺されました。Jo Cox。5歳と3歳の母親でした。彼女が人生をかけて取り組んだのが「孤独」の問題。彼女の亡き後、イギリスでは孤独担当大臣ができました。そして今年、日本でも孤独対策が動き始めました。沢山の命が救われる。改めて心からの敬意と感謝を。" (Tweet). Retrieved June 12, 2025 – via Twitter.
  15. ^ "Ikizurasa - "It's tough to live"". Ikigai Tribe. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  16. ^ "Japan youngster starts volunteer online message counseling". The Seattle Times. 2020-10-22. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  17. ^ 産経新聞 (2024-09-25). "＜独自＞自民、衆院東京15区に25歳の大空幸星氏を擁立 「Z世代」の論客". 産経新聞：産経ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  18. ^ 中山知子. "小泉進次郎氏「私は負けましたが、勝たせたい」選対委員長就任後初の街頭演説、裏金問題にも言及 - 社会 : 日刊スポーツ". nikkansports.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  19. ^ 「週刊文春」編集部 (2024-11-27). "最年少代議士・大空幸星（26）に訊いた安倍昭恵夫人との関係と1.6億補助金". 週刊文春 電子版 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  20. ^ "「直接会うと本当すてきな方」橋下徹氏が語る安倍昭恵さん トランプ夫妻との夕食会は日米関係にどう影響？ [写真ギャラリー3/4] | 特集 | ニュース | 関西テレビ放送 カンテレ". ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  21. ^ "自民・大空幸星氏が小選挙区で落選確実 衆院東京15区". 毎日新聞 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  22. ^ "小選挙区落選の自民・大空幸星氏「国造りへの思い揺らがず」". 毎日新聞 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  23. ^ 日本放送協会. "自由民主党 東京ブロック 比例代表候補者 衆議院選挙2024 -衆院選- NHK". www.nhk.or.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  24. ^ "最年少の自民・大空幸星氏、小選挙区で敗北 比例で当確". 日本経済新聞 (in Japanese). 2024-10-28. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  25. ^ 産経新聞 (2024-10-28). "「Z世代の論客」自民の大空幸星氏、東京15区は及ばずも比例復活 衆院選". 産経新聞：産経ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  26. ^ 産経新聞 (2024-10-30). "衆院選小選挙区「3位でも当選」「3人全員当選」 重複立候補→比例復活に今回も疑問の声". 産経新聞：産経ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  27. ^ FNNプライムオンライン (2024-11-11). 史上最年少の25歳で初当選 大空幸星議員の姿も…元タレント森下千里（43）氏「女性が活躍できる社会を」新人議員が初登庁！3つ子のママ議員は「ママ行ってくるね！」. Retrieved 2025-06-13 – via YouTube.
  28. ^ 産経新聞 (2025-03-25). "自民党、被選挙権年齢引き下げへ議論本格化 5月中旬めどに提言取りまとめ目指す". 産経新聞：産経ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  29. ^ 産経新聞 (2025-03-14). "「直ちに石破事務所に伺い、お返しした」自民・大空幸星氏 10万円商品券配布をXで説明". 産経新聞：産経ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  30. ^ ANNnewsCH (2025-05-23). 【報ステ全文】石破総理に聞く“コメ価格”どう下げる？国民の生活苦へ処方箋は？【報道ステーション】(2025年5月23日). Retrieved 2025-06-13 – via YouTube.
  31. ^ Jump up to:a b c d 日本放送協会. "[衆議院選挙2024] 江東区、東京１５区の候補者アンケート 衆院選 NHK". www.nhk.or.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  32. ^ Jump up to:a b c "自民 東京１５区 大空幸星 | 第50回衆院選". 毎日新聞 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  33. ^ Ōzora, Kōki [@ozorakoki] (January 6, 2023). "卯年。毎日色々あるけど、家に帰るとうさぎがいるという生活も悪くはないですよ" (Tweet). Retrieved June 12, 2025 – via Twitter.
  34. ^ "自民党「最年少国会議員」の友人・古市憲寿が衆院選の「お手伝い」…現場で起こしていた「もめごと」 @gendai_biz". 現代ビジネス (in Japanese). 2024-11-05. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  35. ^ "FORBES JAPAN 30 UNDER 30 2023｜日本発「世界を変える30歳未満」120人". Forbes JAPAN（フォーブス ジャパン） (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  36. ^ "2024年衆議院総選挙 東京15区". NHK (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-11-29.
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