Preceded by Toru Hashimoto Role Politician | Name Ichiro Matsui | |
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Born January 31, 1963 (age 61)
Yao, Osaka, Japan ( 1963-01-31 ) Alma mater Fukuoka Institute of Technology Education Fukuoka Institute of Technology Political party Japan Restoration Party, Osaka Restoration Association Similar People Toru Hashimoto, Yorihisa Matsuno, Mito Kakizawa, Kunio Hiramatsu, Kenji Eda Profiles | ||
Ichiro Matsui: Towards the 2025 Japan World Expo in Osaka
Ichirō Matsui (松井一郎, Matsui Ichirō, born January 31, 1964) is a Japanese politician, the current governor of Osaka prefecture and secretary-general of both the Osaka Restoration Association (ORA) and of the Japan Restoration Association (JRA). He is a close ally of Tōru Hashimoto, who is the current Osaka mayor and president of both the ORA and JRA.
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Early career
After he graduated from Fukuoka Institute of Technology in March 1986 he worked for Kinden Corporation, a construction company. He later entered politics, in April 2003 being elected to the Osaka Prefectural Assembly, serving three consecutive terms.
Osaka Restoration Association and Japan Restoration Association
In April 2010 Matsui became the first secretary general of the regional Osaka Restoration Association. In September 2012 he also became the founding secretary-general of the new national party, the Japan Restoration Association.
Election as governor
After Tōru Hashimoto decided to step down as governor of Osaka prefecture to run as mayor of Osaka city in order to further his plans to merge the two entities, Matsui ran as governor to replace him. Matsui was elected to the post in the November 27, 2011 election.
Kyozo Isohi comments
On June 10, 2012 Kyozo Isohi, a homeless and unemployed man recently released from jail, stabbed two passersby to death in Shinsaibashi with a kitchen knife. Isohi told police that "he was frustrated at having no home and no job prospects, and that he didn’t want to live anymore".
Matsui spoke at a press conference, stating that the attacker should have just killed himself instead of harming others.