PRESS CONFERENCE

Japan's First Transgender Candidate for Mayor
Karen Yoda, Candidate for Shinjuku mayor

11:00-12:00 Wednesday, November 2, 2022
(The speech will be in English and Q&A will be in Japanese with English interpretation.)


Among the candidates lined up to contest local elections on November 13 is one being closely watched for evidence that Japanese politics and society is becoming more diverse. Karen Yoda is a transgender female politician and a former member of the Shinjuku City Council. She is running for mayor of Tokyo's Shinjuku ward, home of the city's government and a major commercial, residential and entertainment district. 
 
A Twenty-year resident of the district, Yoda says she wants to make it and Japan a more inclusive place. She has worked to protect LGBTQ rights, and has won backing from "The Association for a Diverse and Friendly Shinjuku". A small number of lesbian and gay Diet and members and transgender lawmakers currently hold office but, if elected, Yoda will become the nation’s first transgender head of a local government.  
 
Born in Toyohashi City, Aichi Prefecture, in 1972, the second son of three brothers, Yoda became an actor and performed in musicals and on stage.  At 36, he started hormone therapy and later officially changed his sex to female.  After working as a dancer in show restaurants, she became an administrative scrivener.  In April 2019, she won election for the first time and became a Shinjuku City Council member. She fought in the House of Councillors election in July 2022. Yoda is a graduate of Aoyama Gakuin University, Faculty of Law.

How to attend
Please register at front@fccj.or.jp with your name, the name of your media outlet, and FCCJ membership number. Due to space restrictions attendance will be limited. Doors open 15 minutes before the event. Please sign in, giving your name and contact details at the reception, and have your temperature taken before proceeding.

How to watch online: https://www.youtube.com/c/FCCJchannel/live
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Members watching the event online can submit questions for the speakers in advance using this submission form.

TV crew: Please make a reservation at front@fccj.or.jp. Doors open for TV crews only at 30 minutes before the event.

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