Kimi Onoda

is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party. She has been Minister in charge of Economic Security and Minister in charge of a Society of Well-Ordered and Harmonious Coexistence with Foreign Nationals since 2025 within Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's cabinet while being the youngest minister within the cabinet. She is a member of the House of Councillors representing Okayama.

She had previously served as Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Defense from 2022 to 2023 under Second Kishida Cabinet and Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Justice from 2020 to 2021 under the Suga Cabinet.

Early life and education Onoda Kimi was born on December 7, 1982, in Chicago, Illinois, United States, and moved to Setouchi, Okayama Prefecture, Japan at the age of one. Her mother is Japanese and her father is Irish American. Her father abandoned her pregnant mother and her when she was two, leaving them with no child support. There she acquired a high school teacher's license in civics. After graduating from university, she was in charge of public relations and promotion at a video game company.

Career After being a 5th year student In 2015, she was re-elected to the Kita Ward Council. The following year, in 2016, she ran for the 24th regular election for the House of Councillors as an LDP-certified candidate (Komeito nomination). Onoda defeated Kentaro Kuroishi, who was nominated by the Social Democratic Party and the Japanese Communist Party, and won the election as the successor to former House of Councillors chairman Satsuki Eda of the Democratic Party, who announced his retirement from politics.

In 2019, she joined the Takeshita Faction (Heisei Kenkyūkai). Onoda was appointed Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Justice in the Suga Cabinet in September 2020. On July 10, 2022, Onoda won the 26th regular election for the House of Councillors by 180,000 votes (54.7% of the vote), far exceeding the previous runner-up margin (approximately 108,000 votes), with support from independent voters, despite the lack of support from the Komeito.

Minister of Defense Yasukazu Hamada (center) and Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Defense Onoda attending the International Fleet Review. (2022)

On August 12, 2022, she was appointed Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Defense in the Second Kishida Cabinet reshuffle.

In October 2025, she was appointed Minister in charge of Economic Security and Minister in charge of a Society of Well-Ordered and Harmonious Coexistence with Foreign Nationals

Policies and advocacy

Constitution

Regarding constitutional revision, Onoda answered "in favor" in 2022 NHK and Mainichi Shimbun questionnaires. Regarding the revision of Article 9, she commented "the Constitution should be revised to clearly state the existence of the Self-Defense Forces" in a 2022 Mainichi Shimbun questionnaire. She did not respond regarding legal revisions to allow same-sex marriage in 2022 NHK and Mainichi Shimbun questionnaires.

However, on October 4, 2016, after the election, it was discovered that she had not completed the renunciation procedure in the U.S., which the Nationality Law imposes an effort requirement, and that she was in a dual nationality status. Onoda apologized for her lack of knowledge and said that she was proceeding with the procedures because it turned out that she also needed to apply to the U.S. government to renounce her U.S. citizenship.

Onoda commented on then Democratic Party Representative Renhō's refusal to release her family register, which was in question at the same time over the issue of multiple nationality, saying, "The only thing that can prove that you are not violating the Nationality Law is a copy of your family register that shows the date of selection of your nationality. No one is talking about roots or discrimination." Onoda also criticized Renhō for calling those who demanded the publication of her family register "racist" saying that she "created a conflict between those who have foreign blood and those who do not."

Affiliations

The Conference to Japan's Dignity and National Interest (Executive Secretary) LDP Diet Members Caucus for the Prevention of Passive Smoking Parliamentarians' League for Japan's Anime, Manga, and Games