Nobutsune Oda

Viscount Nobutsune Oda (織田 信恒, Oda Nobutsune; 3 August 1889 – 20 May 1967) was a Japanese politician, businessman, and manga author, member of the House of Peers. Under the pen name Oda Shōsei (織田 小星), he wrote the original draft and text for the manga "Shō-chan no Bōken".

Early life He was born in Tokyo as Sōma Hidetane (相馬 秀胤), the eldest son of Viscount Soma Noritane, who was originally the lord of the Sōma Nakamura domain. His biological mother is Tomei. In June 1895 (Meiji 28), he became the adopted heir of Viscount Oda Nobutoshi, the former lord of the Tendō Domain.

In the Taisho period, he participated in the Shinaikai sponsored by Yoriyasu Arima and Nagakage Oka, and was involved in the establishment of night schools for workers, such as Shinai Junior High School. He also participated in the eleventh gathering of up-and-coming peers run by Arima and Fumimaro Konoe. In 1926, he was appointed secretary to the Minister of Railways. On 26 July 1928, he was elected as a member of the House of Peers by-election. He belonged to Kenkyukai faction and served as a member of the House of Peers until its abolition on 2 May 1947. In the Hamaguchi Cabinet, he was appointed as Foreign Affairs Counselor, and in the Saitō Cabinet, he was appointed Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Agriculture and Forestry. In 1937 (Shōwa 12), he became chairman of the board of ammonium sulfate sales. He also served as president of Shizuoka Electric Railway and director of the NHK.

After the war, in 1947, he ran as an independent candidate for the 1st regular election for members of the House of Councilors, but was defeated. He has also served as a member of the Cabinet's (former) Tourism Business Council, director and auditor of Keikyu Corporation, and president of Keihin Automobile Industry. He also served as director of Kawasaki Saikaya and chairman of the Mineichirō Adachi Memorial Foundation. At 4:00 pm on 20 May 1967, he died of a myocardial infarction at his home in Daita, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, at the age of 77. He received the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Second Class.