Gaku Hashimoto

is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party and a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet. He represents the 4th District of Okayama prefecture.

Background A native of Sōja, Okayama, Gaku Hashimoto is the son of a former Prime Minister of Japan, Ryutaro Hashimoto, and the grandson of Ryugo Hashimoto, also a member of the House of Representatives.

His uncle Daijiro Hashimoto is a former governor of Kōchi Prefecture. His mother Kumiko Nakamura belongs to another dynasty, the Nakamura family.

His great-grandfather Utaro Hashimoto headed the quasi-monopolistic Dai-Nippon Beer Company, Ltd., which is now Sapporo Brewery.

Career Hashimoto attended the Keio University as both undergraduate and graduate, and joined the Mitsubishi Research Institute.

In 2005, Hashimoto was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time. He also served as Member, Special Committee on Okinawa and Northern Problems, Director, Special Committee on Anti-Piracy Measures, Prevention of International Terrorism, and Japan's Cooperation and Support, Director, Committee on Internal Affairs and Communications.

Ideology Hashimoto is affiliated to the openly revisionist lobby Nippon Kaigi, and a member of the following right-wing groups in the Diet: Nippon Kaigi Diet discussion group (日本会議国会議員懇談会 - Nippon kaigi kokkai giin kondankai) Conference of parliamentarians on the Shinto Association of Spiritual Leadership (神道政治連盟国会議員懇談会 - Shinto Seiji Renmei Kokkai Giin Kondankai) - NB: SAS a.k.a. Sinseiren, Shinto Political League 83 Group (83会)

Hashimoto gave the following answers to the questionnaire submitted by Mainichi to parliamentarians:

In 2012: in favor of the revision of the Constitution in favor of the right of collective self-defense (revision of Article 9) against the reform of the National assembly (unicameral instead of bicameral) in favor of reactivating nuclear power plants against the goal of zero nuclear power by 2030s in favor of the relocation of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma (Okinawa) against evaluating the purchase of Senkaku Islands by the Government in favor of a strong attitude versus China no answer regarding the participation of Japan to the Trans-Pacific Partnership in favor of considering a nuclear-armed Japan in the future against the reform of the Imperial Household that would allow women to retain their Imperial status even after marriage In 2014: in favor of the revision of the Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution in favor of the right of collective self-defense in favor of nuclear plants no problem for visits of a Prime Minister to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine in favor of the revision of the Murayama Statement against the revision of the Kono Statement against laws preventing hate speech considers that Marine Corps Air Station Futenma is a burden for Okinawa in favor of the Special Secrecy Law against teaching 'morality' in school