Sadao Yamahana

was a Japanese politician who served as chairman of the Japan Socialist Party from January 1993 to September 1993.

Yamahana led his party into coalition with other opposition parties to form the first non-LDP cabinet since 1955, led by Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa. Yamahana served as Minister in charge of political reform in the same cabinet. Yamahana later left the Socialists and became a founding member of the Democratic Party.

Biography

Sadao Yamahana was born on February 26, 1936, the day of the February 26 incident, in Tokyo. His father Hideo Yamahana was a labour activist who was arrested several times for alleged subversion during Sadao's early childhood in the wartime period. After the surrender of Japan, Hideo became a founding member of the Japan Socialist Party and was elected to the National Diet.

Sadao Yamahana studied law at Chuo University, graduating in 1958. As a lawyer he served on the legal team of the Japan Socialist Party and the Sohyo. After his father's retirement, Yamahana was elected in the 1976 House of Representatives election from Tokyo's 11th district as a member of the JSP.

Sadao Yamahana died on 14 July 1999. His son Ikuo Yamahana is also a member of the House of Representatives.