21 Facts About Kazuo Shii

Kazuo Shii is a Japanese politician who has been the chairman of the Central Committee of the Japanese Communist Party since 2024.

Kazuo Shii previously served as the chairman of the Executive Committee of the Central Committee of the JCP from 24 November 2000 to 18 January 2024.

Kazuo Shii participated in the JCP's Tokyo Committee after graduation, and worked in the Party Central Committee from 1982.

Kazuo Shii became the head of the secretariat in 1990, and was elected as a member of the House of Representatives in 1993.

Kazuo Shii became the chairman of the Party Executive Committee in 2000.

Kazuo Shii led the party until 18 January 2024, when he resigned as the executive committee chairman, and was succeeded by Tomoko Tamura.

Kazuo Shii was born in Yotsukaido in Chiba Prefecture, the son of two schoolteachers.

Kazuo Shii graduated with the Bachelor of Engineering degree in Physics and Engineering from the University of Tokyo.

Kazuo Shii joined the JCP during his first year at the university and became an active participant in the party's student wing.

Kazuo Shii worked in the Central Committee of the JCP from 1982.

On 13 July 1990, Kazuo Shii became the head of the party's secretariat.

In 2006, Kazuo Shii became the first JCP chairman to visit South Korea, where he traveled to an international conference of Asian political parties.

Kazuo Shii visited the site of Seodaemun Prison and paid tribute to the memory of Korean anti-colonial activists who were imprisoned during the period of Japanese colonialism.

Kazuo Shii met the speaker of the National Assembly, the chairman of the Uri Party, and the floor leader of the Grand National Party.

Kazuo Shii became the first JCP leader to visit the United States, doing so in April 2010.

In 2016, Kazuo Shii proposed a "national coalition government", promoting the joint fielding of candidates with other opposition parties.

In early 2023, it was rumored that Kazuo Shii was facing turmoil within his own party due to his failure to gain the party traction and his length of leadership.

At the JCP convention on 18 January 2024, Kazuo Shii's resigned as the Party chairman, with Tomoko Tamura succeeding him.

Kazuo Shii has been sanctioned by Russia over his support for Ukraine.

Kazuo Shii plays the piano; he has said music is "a part of his life" and seriously considered becoming a musician.

Kazuo Shii says his favorite composers are Franz Schubert and Dmitri Shostakovich.