Wakako Hironaka

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Wakako Hironaka (広中 和歌子, Hironaka Wakako^?, born 11 May 1934, Tokyo) is a Japanese writer and politician. She is a member of the House of Councillors (Upper House of the Japanese Diet). Her political affiliation is with the Democratic Party of Japan. Her husband is Heisuke Hironaka, a mathematician.

Contents 1 Politician 2 Other Activities 3 Bibliography 4 External links

[edit] Politician

Wakako Hironaka has been a member of the House of Councillors since 1986, and currently serving her fourth term. Between 1993-1994, she was State Minister, Director-General of the Environment Agency in the Hosokawa Cabinet. In the past years, she served several times as Vice President of the Democratic Party of Japan.

Councillor Hironaka is currently Director of the Research Committee on International Affairs and Global Warming Issues and a Member of both the Committee on Environment and Official Development Assistance and Related Matters. She has been active internationally, as Vice Chair of Global Environmental Action (GEA), an organizing member of Micro Credit Summit, a member of World Commission on Forests and Sustainable Development, Earth Charter Commission, and Teri (The Energy and Resourceｓ Institute)

Ms. Hironaka received a B.A. in English from Ochanomizu Women's University and an M.A. in Anthropology from Brandeis University. She has written several books, essays, translations, and critiques on education, culture, society, and women's issues.

[edit] Other Activities

Party Affiliation and Position Standing Officer, Democratic Party of Japan

Membership, House Committees Chair, Research Committee on Economy, Industry and Employment

Member, Committee on Education, Culture, and Science.

Membership, International Organizations Vice-Chair, Global Environmental Action (GEA) Vice-Chair, GLOBE Japan (Global Legislators Organization for a Balanced Environment) Co-Chair, Council of Parliamentarians, Micro Credit Summit Member, WCFSD (World Commission on Forests and Sustainable Development) Member, Earth Charter Commission Member, Earth Charter International Council Chair, Committee for Promoting the Earth Charter in Japan and the Asia Pacific Member, International Scientific Advisory Board (ISAB), UNESCO Chair, PGA (Parliamentarians for Global Action) Japan National Committee Member, Governing Council, TERI The Energy Research Institute, New Delhi, India Member, UNEP Sasakawa Prize Jury

Former Responsibilities Sept. 2005 – Sept. 2006: Vice President, Democratic Party of Japan June 1996 - Jan. 1997: Chairperson, House Special Committee on Science and Technology Aug. 1995 - June 1996: Shadow Cabinet Minister of Environment Policy, New Frontier Party Aug. 1993 - Apr. 1994: State Minister, Director General of the Environment Agency Apr. 1993 - Aug. 1993: President, GLOBE Japan (Global Legislators Organization for a Balanced Environment)

[edit] Bibliography

In Japanese

• Futatsu no Bunka no Aida de (二つの文化の間で, Between Two Cultures^?) 1979

• Josei no Shigoto to Katei (Woman-Her Work and Family, Josei no Shigoto to Katei^?) 1981

• Tsugi no Sedai ni Nani wo nokosu ka (What Values Should We Leave for the Future Generations?, Tsugi no Sedai ni Nani wo nokosu ka^?) 1982

• Amerika ha Nihon ni nani wo nozon de iru ka , Gikai kara no Koe (What America Wants from Japan, Voices from the American Congress, Amerika ha Nihon ni nani wo nozon de iru ka , Gikai kara no Koe^?) 1987

• Seiji ha wakaranai (Politics is Unexpectedly Interesting, Seiji ha wakaranai^?) 1989

Translations into Japanese

Shifting Gears, George & Nina O'Neill, 1975

Japan as Number One, Ezra Vogel with A. Kimoto, 1979

Samurai & Silk, Haru M. Reischauer, 1987

• Translations from Japanese to English

Hanaoka Seisyuu no Tsuma (華岡青洲の妻｜The Doctor's Wife, Hanaoka Seisyuu no Tsuma^?) : Sawako Ariyoshi, 1978 (with Ann Siller Kostant)

Ameyuki-san, Tomoko Yamazaki, 1986

[edit] External links

• Politician's website