Wakako Hironaka

Wakako Hironaka (広中 和歌子) is a Japanese writer and politician. She is a member of the House of Councillors (Upper House of the Japanese Diet). Her political affiliation is with the Democratic Party of Japan. Her husband is Heisuke Hironaka, a mathematician.

Politician
Wakako Hironaka has been a member of the House of Councillors since 1986, and currently serving her fourth term. Between 1993-1994, she was State Minister, Director-General of the Environment Agency in the Hosokawa Cabinet. In the past years, she served several times as Vice President of the Democratic Party of Japan.

Councillor Hironaka is currently Director of the Research Committee on International Affairs and Global Warming Issues and a Member of both the Committee on Environment and Official Development Assistance and Related Matters. She has been active internationally, as Vice Chair of Global Environmental Action (GEA), an organizing member of Micro Credit Summit, a member of World Commission on Forests and Sustainable Development, Earth Charter Commission, and Teri (The Energy and Resourceｓ Institute)

Ms. Hironaka received a B.A. in English from Ochanomizu Women's University and an M.A. in Anthropology from Brandeis University. She has written several books, essays, translations, and critiques on education, culture, society, and women's issues.

Other activities

 * Party Affiliation and Position Standing
 * Officer, Democratic Party of Japan
 * Membership, House Committees Chair, Research Committee on Economy, Industry and Employment
 * Member, Committee on Education, Culture, and Science.
 * Membership, International Organizations Vice-Chair, Global Environmental Action (GEA)
 * Vice-Chair, GLOBE Japan (Global Legislators Organization for a Balanced Environment)
 * Co-Chair, Council of Parliamentarians, Micro Credit Summit
 * Member, WCFSD (World Commission on Forests and Sustainable Development)
 * Member, Earth Charter Commission
 * Member, Earth Charter International Council
 * Chair, Committee for Promoting the Earth Charter in Japan and the Asia Pacific
 * Member, International Scientific Advisory Board (ISAB), UNESCO
 * Chair, PGA (Parliamentarians for Global Action) Japan National Committee
 * Member, Governing Council, TERI The Energy Research Institute, New Delhi, India
 * Member, UNEP Sasakawa Prize Jury


 * Former Roles
 * Sept. 2005 – Sept. 2006: Vice President, Democratic Party of Japan
 * June 1996 - Jan. 1997: Chairperson, House Special Committee on Science and Technology
 * Aug. 1995 - June 1996: Shadow Cabinet Minister of Environment Policy, New Frontier Party Aug.
 * 1993 - Apr. 1994: State Minister, Director General of the Environment Agency
 * Apr. 1993 - Aug. 1993: President, GLOBE Japan (Global Legislators Organization for a Balanced Environment)