Aya Kamikawa
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| Aya Kamikawa | |
|---|---|
 Kamikawa in 2007 |
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| Born | January 25, 1968 Tokyo, Japan |
| Occupation | Politician |
Aya Kamikawa (上川 あや Kamikawa Aya, born January 25, 1968)[1]) is a Tokyo municipal official, the first transsexual person to seek or win elected office in Japan. She was elected in April 2003.[2] Kamikawa, then a 35-year-old writer, submitted her election application papers with a blank space for "sex."[3]
She won a four-year term as an independent under huge media attention, placing sixth of 72 candidates running for 52 seats in the Setagaya ward assembly, the most populous district in Tokyo.[2] Despite an announcement that the government would continue to consider her male officially, she stated that she would work as a woman. Her platform was to improve rights for women, children, the elderly, the handicapped, and LGBT people.
In April 2007, she was re-elected to her second term, placing second of 71 candidates running for 52 in the same ward assembly. She is the only openly transgendered official in Japan at this point.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Aya Kamikawa's Profile
- ^ a b Bribery trial no impediment in man's assembly seat quest The Japan Times. April 29, 2003.
- ^ Setagaya OKs transsexual's election bid The Japan Times. April 21, 2003.
[edit] External links
- Law concerning special rules regarding sex status of a person with gender identity disorder （TS Law in Japan）
- Kamikawa Aya official site (in Japanese)
- Transsexual stands proud in a land of conformity
- Kamikawa Aya's Profile on the Gay and Lesbian Leadership Institute headquartered in the United States
