Renhō Saitō (斉藤 蓮舫, Saitō Renhō, née Hsieh (謝), formerly Murata (村田); born 28 November 1967), known mononymously as Renhō, is a Japanese politician and former journalist. She was a member of the House of Councillors from 2004 to 2024, and again since 2025. She was the leader of the now-defunct major opposition party, the Democratic Party from 2016 to 2017.
Quick facts President of the Democratic Party, Preceded by ...
Renhō Saitō |
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 Renhō in 2024 |
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In office
1 October 2016 – 27 July 2017 |
| Preceded by | Katsuya Okada |
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| Succeeded by | Seiji Maehara |
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In office
2 September 2011 – 13 January 2012 |
| Prime Minister | Yoshihiko Noda |
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| Preceded by | Yukio Edano |
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| Succeeded by | Katsuya Okada |
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In office
8 June 2010 – 27 June 2011 |
| Prime Minister | Naoto Kan |
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| Preceded by | Yukio Edano |
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| Succeeded by | Yukio Edano |
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In office
14 January 2011 – 27 June 2011 |
| Prime Minister | Naoto Kan |
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| Preceded by | Tomiko Okazaki |
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| Succeeded by | Goshi Hosono |
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Assumed office
28 July 2025 |
| Constituency | National PR |
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In office
26 July 2004 – 20 June 2024 |
| Preceded by | Miyo Inoue |
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| Succeeded by | Vacant |
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| Constituency | Tokyo at-large |
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| Born | Hsieh Lien-fang (謝蓮舫)
(1967-11-28) 28 November 1967 (age 58)
Meguro, Tokyo, Japan |
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| Citizenship | Taiwan (until 2016)
Japan (since 1985) |
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| Political party | CDP (2017–2024, 2025–present) |
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Other political
affiliations | DPJ (2004–2016)
DP (2016–2017)
Independent (2024–2025) |
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| Spouse(s) |
Nobuyuki Murata
(m. ; div. ) |
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| Children | 2 |
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| Alma mater | Aoyama Gakuin University
Peking University |
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| Website | www.renho.jp |
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Quick facts Chinese name, Traditional Chinese ...
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Quick facts Japanese name, Hiragana ...
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Renhō was a candidate for the 2024 Tokyo gubernatorial election, but lost to current Governor Yuriko Koike, placing third behind Shinji Ishimaru.[1]
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