Masa Nakayama (中山 マサ Nakayama Masa, January 19, 1891 – October 11, 1976) was a Japanese politician, who was the first woman appointed to the Cabinet of Japan when she became Minister of Health and Welfare in 1960.[1]
She was born Masa Iida-Powers in Nagasaki, the daughter of Rodney H. Powers, an American businessman, and his Japanese de facto, Naka Iida. Masa attended Kwassui Jogakko, a mission school run by American Methodist missionaries. She also studied at Ohio Wesleyan University in the United States,[2] graduating in 1916 and starting a distinguished career in education prior to the outbreak of World War II.[3]
In 1947, she was elected as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet, representing the second district of Osaka Prefecture[4] for the LDP[5] as part of Hayato Ikeda's government.[6] In 1960, she became the first woman appointed to the Cabinet of Japan when she was made Minister of Health and Welfare. She served as a minister for five months, stepping down in December 1960. Nakayama retired from the Diet in 1969, and was succeeded in her seat by her son, Masaaki.[4]
She was married to Fukuzō Nakayama, who was also a politician and served in the lower house from 1932 to 1942, and later in the upper house.[4] Their sons are Representative Taro Nakayama and Representative Masaaki Nakayama. Representative Yasuhide Nakayama is their grandson and Masaaki's son.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Yoshio Watanabe |
Minister of Health and Welfare 1960 |
Succeeded by Kimi Furui |