Takeshi Tokuda

is a former Japanese politician who served in the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature) as an independent.

Early life A native of Yao, Osaka, Tokita attended University of California, Los Angeles and summer school at Harvard University in the United States. He entered Teikyo University in April 2005.

Family His father Torao Tokuda was also a politician, as well as head of the Tokushukai hospital group.

Political career Tokuda was elected for the first time in 2005.

Rape scandal and resignation In February 2013, he resigned from his Diet post as parliamentary secretary in charge of infrastructure and transport as well as reconstruction, after tabloid Shūkan Shinchō ran a story alleging he had raped an intoxicated 19-year-old, and then when the victim filed a civil suit against him for damages came to an out-of-court settlement with her for ¥10 million. In public comments, Tokuda apologised for causing trouble but refused comment on the issue, stating that he had agreed not to discuss it. On February 24, 2014, he submitted his resignation from the Diet due to guilt-by-association rules of the Public Offices Election Law.