Mitsuyoshi Tsukahara

Tsukahara was born in 1965.  He studied international strategies and policy-making process of Japanese government as well as social engineering under instruction of Prof. Kenichi Kohyama of Gakusyuin University (who served as a brain to the Prime Minister of the Ohira and Nakasone Cabinets in policy-making) through his years at the law department in the university and in graduate school of Political science studies thereof. In his fourth year at the university, Tsukahara was awarded Foreign Minister Award in “The Forum 89”, the thesis competition handling international issues hosted jointly by the Foreign Ministry and The Society for Promotion of Japanese Diplomacy, and was given a chance to visit 5 Southeast Asian countries. 

At the graduate school, he majored in Japanese politics, and acquisition of M.A. followed.  In August 1992, he was assigned as a speechwriter to Mr. Morihiro Hosokawa (President of Japan New Party) Meanwhile, he also served as a member of the Policy Board of Japan New Party and drafted and established a wide range of policies for the party.  Among his policies are “Seiji Kaikaku 10 Kajyou (10 Principles of Political Reform)” (October 1993) and “Nihon Shintou No Seisaku To Kadai - Kihon Seisaku Taikou (Basic Policy Platform of Japan New Party)” (worked up and edited as “Nougyou Wo Kaku Tosuru Sin Denen-syugi No Kousou (Designing of Neo Ruralism on the Basis of Agriculture)” (April 1994). 

In August 1993 when the Hosokawa Government was founded, Tsukahara was assigned as General Manager of Policy Research Promotion Section at Japan New Policy Research Center originated by 123 intellectuals (Chairman: Mr. Akitane Kiuchi, the former Ambassador to France). The most notable was his role as a coordinator and political advisor for the Prime Minister Hosokawa concerning the subject of the “partial open rice market issue”. 

After the coalition government of non-LDP parties collapsed (June 1994), he worked with Group Seiun, the organization formed by several Diet members who had left Japan New Party.  In September 1994, Tsukahara assisted the chairman of the Administration and Financial Reform Project Team formed by LDP, Sakigake Party and Social Democratic Party, which composed the coalition government back then. That was followed by his career as the senior political advisor to several Diet members started in 1995, where he gave advice to them in making political judgement.  Then in 1996, he launched a Web site (Japan Watch), within the Web site of his own research institute, where the construction of fluctuating Japanese politics and economy is analyzed and shown for the purpose of information output to foreign countries.  September 11 and 12 in 2000, Tsukahara appeared as a discussants at Oiso experts’ live-in seminar, “Democracy and Prosperity: the Rule of Law” (Chairman: Yoshio Okawara, the former Ambassador to the United States of America), sponsored jointly by Tokyo American Center (American Embassy) and Institute for International Policy Studies. 

His current career is backed up with a broad range of human network extending from executives of private corporations, advisors, intellectuals and journalists to Diet members/policy staffs of both ruling and opposition parties (LDP, DP, Liberal Party, New Conservative Party, etc.), and other administrative officials of various government offices

On the other hand, he participated in the establishment of Institute of Governmental Policy, and he became the head researcher in 1993. In 1994,Institute of Governmental Policy changed the name to Japan Institute of Policy and Research, and he became the president of it. In 1996 , He was elected to the president of Japan Institute of Policy Research (abbreviation JIPR) ,with an independent, non-profit organization and non-governmental organization in Tokyo..