Maki Ikeda

is a Japanese politician who served in the House of Representatives as a member of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan from 2024 to 2026, and from 2017 to 2021.

Early life and education Maki Ikeda was born in Itabashi, Japan, on 24 May 1972. She suffered abuse from her father before starting kindergarten. In junior high school she went to live with her grandmother after her mother and younger sister left the family due to her father's abuse. She graduated from Hokkaido University in 2015.

Career From 1997 to 2011, Ikeda worked at the Welfare Office in Itabashi. In 2011, she moved from Tokyo to Hokkaido.

In the 2014 election Ikeda ran as an independent candidate in Hokkaido 2nd district, but lost. She ran in Hokkaido 5th district for a 2016 by-election, but lost to Yoshiaki Wada. She ran for the seat again in the 2017 election as a Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan candidate and received fewer votes than Wada, but obtained enough votes to be returned through the CDP's PR block list.

Ikeda lost reelection in 2021, but was elected in 2024. Ikeda was an independent candidate in the 2023 Hokkaido gubernatorial election, but lost.

Personal life Ikeda married at age 18 and had two children before her husband abandoned her due to his large amount of debt. She is a single mother of two children.

Political positions Ikeda supports recognising same-sex marriage and allowing couples to retain their maiden name after marriage. She believes that the prime minister should not visit the Yasukuni Shrine. She supports adhering to the Three Non-Nuclear Principles and does not support expanding Japan's military.