{{Short description|Japanese politician (born 1962)}} {{About|the politician|the voice actor|Jun Azumi (voice actor)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Jun Azumi | native_name = {{nobold|安住 淳}} | native_name_lang = ja | image = Jun Azumi 20250601.jpg | caption = Azumi in 2025 | office = Secretary-General of Centrist Reform Alliance | leader = Yoshihiko Noda<br>Tetsuo Saito | alongside = Hiromasa Nakano | term_start = 22 January 2026 | term_end = 18 February 2026 | predecessor = ''Office established'' | successor = Takeshi Shina | office1 = Secretary-General of Constitutional Democratic Party | leader1 = Yoshihiko Noda | term_start1 = 11 September 2025 | term_end1 = 19 January 2026 | predecessor1 = Junya Ogawa | successor1 = Masayo Tanabu | office2 = Minister of Finance | prime_minister2 = Yoshihiko Noda | term_start2 = 2 September 2011 | term_end2 = 1 October 2012 | predecessor2 = Yoshihiko Noda | successor2 = Koriki Jojima | office3 = Member of the House of Representatives | constituency3 = Miyagi 5th (1996–2024)<br>Miyagi 4th (2024–2026) | term_start3 = 21 October 1996 | term_end3 = 23 January 2026 | predecessor3 = ''Constituency established'' | successor3 = Chisato Morishita | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1962|1|17|df=y}} | birth_place = Oshika, Miyagi, Japan | death_date = | death_place = | party = CDP (since 2019) | other_party = NPS (1993–1996)<br>DP 1996 (1996–1998)<br>DPJ (1998–2016)<br>DP 2016 (2016–2018)<br>Independent (2018–2019) | alma_mater = Waseda University | children = 2 | website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20071015043258/http://www.miyaginet.com/jun-azumi/ Official website] }} {{nihongo|'''Jun Azumi'''|安住 淳|Azumi Jun|born 17 January 1962}} is a Japanese politician of the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP), a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). He is also the current secretary-general of the CDP on 11 September 2025.<ref>https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20250913-280500/</ref>
==Early life== Azumi was born in Oshika town (now Ishinomaki), Oshika within Miyagi Prefecture. His dad, Shigehiko Azumi, was formerly mayor of Oshika town.
After graduating from Ishinomaki High School, Azumi took a short break before entering Waseda University. While at Waseda, he was a member of the oratorical club and Yaichi Ohata's seminar, which focused on international trade. After graduation, Azumi took a job at NHK as a reporter. He was assigned to the Akita branch, and tasked with covering police affairs along with violent and non-violent crime.<ref name="ENTAME next（2020-1-19）">{{Cite web|url=https://entamenext.com/articles/detail/3444/4/1/1|title=「人は変化せずにはいられない、だから...」安住淳議員の考える政治家の“不可欠資質”【井上咲楽の政治家 直撃】（4）|publisher=ENTAME next|date=2020-01-19|accessdate=2024-06-14}}</ref> He later became a reporter for the Tokyo News Bureau's political department,<ref>{{Cite web|title=プロフィール｜安住淳 公式サイト 公式サイト |url=https://azumi-jun.jp/ |website=安住淳 公式サイト |accessdate=2022-01-29 |language=ja}}</ref> and focused on covering the Liberal Democratic Party. He later became a reporter covering Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Sonoda.<ref>{{Cite web|title=ゴーマン大臣安住淳(財務相)「コンプレックスだらけの青春時代」 |work=フライデー |publisher=講談社 |url=https://gendai.media/articles/-/25460?page=2 |accessdate=2020-08-26}}</ref> His boss at the time was Hideo Kageyama, who eventually encouraged Azumi to enter politics, stating "you'll enter a tough world."<ref>スポーツ報知 2010年8月13日{{Full citation needed|date=May 2023}}</ref> He retired from reporting fully in 1993.
==Entering politics== Azumi first ran in the 1993 general election in the former Miyagi's 2nd district, and was recommended by both the Japan New Party and New Party Sakigake. He placed fifth out of a field with three winners, however, and lost. He eventually joined the NPS after his loss, and flowed with the other members of the NPS into forming the 1996 Democratic Party.
In the 1996 general election, he ran for Miyagi's 5th district under the new electoral reform, which had become a duel between him and NFP candidate Kimio Doi, who had placed fourth in Miyagi's 2nd district in 1993. {{ill|Ichiro Hino|ja|日野市朗}}, a SDP representative who had won a seat in Miyagi's 2nd in 1993 and was Minister of Posts and Telecommunications in the First Hashimoto Cabinet, had switched to the proportional block solely rather than run in the district. Azumi narrowly won against Doi and several other candidates, including LDP, SDP, and JCP members. Azumi held the seat in 2000 against Doi, who had joined the LDP, by an incredibly narrow margin of just over 1,000 votes. Hino was scheduled to run in the district, but was pulled out of the district before the election to only run in the proportional block again. He became a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee in 2000. He held his seat by a wider margin in 2003, and in 2005, he was the only DPJ member to defend his seat in Miyagi, winning by a similar margin as he did in 2003 despite the nationwide LDP landslide. Party president Katsuya Okada resigned the day after the election,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.dpj.or.jp/news/?num=5736 | title=岡田代表 辞任を表明 １２日未明の会見で | publisher=民主党 | date=2005-09-12 | accessdate=2021-12-01 }}</ref> and in the ensuing 2005 Democratic Party of Japan leadership election, he was named a recommender for Seiji Maehara.<ref name="asahi20050917">{{cite news |url=https://www.asahi.com/senkyo2005/news/TKY200509170064.html | title=菅、前原両氏の一騎打ちに 民主代表選 | newspaper=朝日新聞 | date=2005-09-17 | accessdate=2021-12-01 }}</ref> Maehara defeated Noda by two votes, and he briefly became the Chair of the DPJ Election Committee.
In the 2008 Osaka gubernatorial election, Azumi actively supported Sadatoshi Kumagi along with members of the {{ill|"Gasoline Price Reduction Squadron"|ja|ガソリン値下げ隊}}, a grouping of DPJ representatives who supported the abolition of the provisional gasoline tax. Kumagi was defeated by Toru Hashimoto.<ref>スポニチアネックスOSAKA 社会 "熊谷氏応援"安住議員が橋下氏バッサリ「姑息」</ref>
==In government== ===Hatoyama Cabinet=== In the 2009 election which saw a change in government, the DPJ won five out of six seats in Miyagi. Azumi won himself by an increased margin of over 15%. He thereafter became Chair of the Security Committee of the House of Representatives.
===Kan Cabinet=== As Hatoyama was succeeded by Naoto Kan following the June 2010 leadership election, Azumi was tapped to lead the Election Committee again by Kan, and was tasked with the 2010 House of Councillors election along with party Secretary-General Yukio Edano. However, the DPJ suffered a defeat in the elections compared to 2007. Voices from inside the party demanded the resignations of both Edano and Azumi as a result, but Kan agreed to allow both to stay until he was re-elected in the September 2010 leadership election.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://azumi-jun.jp/column/2010/08/27_117.html |title=「代表選挙に突入」 |accessdate=2023-05-24 |website=安住淳オフィシャルホームページ |date=2010-08-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100916091402/http://azumi-jun.jp/column/2010/08/27_117.html |archivedate=2010-09-16}}</ref> In the leadership election, he expressed his support for Kan over Ichirō Ozawa, and was appointed as Deputy Minister of Defense under Toshimi Kitazawa in the reshuffled Kan cabinet. When the second reshuffled Kan cabinet was inaugurated in January 2011, Azumi became {{ill|Chairman of the DPJ National Diet Committee|ja|民主党国会対策委員会}}. He said he would likely aim to submit a Human Rights Protection law.<ref>{{Cite news |title=人権救済法案、今国会は断念 政府・民主党 |newspaper=MSN産経ニュース |date=2011-05-12 |url=http://sankei.jp.msn.com/politics/news/110512/plc11051221140017-n1.htm |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515120312/http://sankei.jp.msn.com/politics/news/110512/plc11051221140017-n1.htm |archivedate=2011-05-15}}</ref>
His family house was affected in the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. When asked about the shortage of supplies, Shu Watanabe, who was placed as Deputy Leader of the DPJ Earthquake Response Committee, said that even if gasoline was transported to affected areas, there was no place to store it. Azumi shortly after said he had considered storing gasoline in school swimming pools. Later, however, Azumi denied he ever said this.<ref>{{Citation|title=H23/12/06 参院財政金融委・愛知治郎【大臣、本当にガソプと言ったのか？】 - ニコニコ動画|date=2011-12-07|url=https://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm16364185|language=ja|accessdate=2022-01-30}}</ref>
When criticism grew around Naoto Kan's response to the earthquake and tsunami, Azumi retorted that "no matter who is Prime Minister, it will be an enormously difficult problem, and it is outrageous to say that Kan is entirely to blame."<ref>{{Cite news|title=誰がやっても難問「菅政権が悪い」は乱暴 |newspaper=スポーツ報知 |date=2011-04-15 |url=http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/topics/news/20110414-OHT1T00318.htm |access-date=2023-05-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110420193859/http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/topics/news/20110414-OHT1T00318.htm |archive-date=2011-04-20}}</ref> Regarding the issue of illegal donations made by Zainichi Koreans to Prime Minister Kan, he stated "I was not aware that the donations were made in Japanese names. I think it was careless, but it was not intentional, so I'm not worried. I think the Cabinet should continue to provide detailed explanations as to the situation."<ref>{{Cite news |title=政府・与党に衝撃 執行部、首相辞任不要で足並み |newspaper=日本経済新聞 |date=2011-03-11 |url=https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNASFS1101A_R10C11A3NN0000/}}</ref> This was seen as discouraging growing calls from within the DPJ which were calling for Kan to resign.
In June 2011 when the LDP and Komeito submitted a no confidence motion against Kan, particularly due to his response following the 2011 earthquake. In response to DPJ lawmakers who were threatening to join the LDP in voting to bring down the Kan cabinet and had grown distrustful of DPJ leadership, Azumi stated "In order to fulfill our responsibility as the ruling party, we must reject the motion by a large margin. Anyone who votes in favor will be expelled, no matter who they are or how many there are." He eventually informed Ichiro Aisawa, chair of the LDP's Diet Committee, of Naoto Kan's intention to resign in Early July to hold a leadership election within the DPJ again. He asked for Aisawa's understanding in the early passage of the special bill for the issuance of government bonds.<ref>{{Cite news |title=代表選「最短で7月上旬」 民主国対委員長 |newspaper=日本経済新聞 |date=2011-06-07 |url=https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNASFS07040_X00C11A6PE8000/}}</ref>
=== Noda Cabinet === thumb|Azumi's inauguration as Finance Minister [[File:Geithner Azumi.jpg|thumb|At the Ministry of Finance with Tim Geithner]] In September 2011, he joined the Noda Cabinet as Minister of Finance. This was taken as something as a surprise by most people and himself, as he was not previously associated with fiscal posts.<ref>時事通信 2011年9月2日{{Full citation needed|date=May 2023}}</ref> Azumi was much more experienced in Defense posts, such as holding the Chairman spot of the Security Committee within the House of Representatives and having held the Vice Minister of Defense role, and was said to have studied up on classified intel in preparation for being tapped as Minister of Defense.<ref>テレビ朝日 2011年9月2日{{Full citation needed|date=May 2023}}</ref> Noda had approached various people for the Finance role, including past party leader Katsuya Okada and Education Minister Tatsuo Kawabata along with others, but they had declined. Eventually, a senior figure within the Minister of Finance recommended Azumi, owing to his highly rated negotiation skills as Chair of the DPJ's Diet Committee.<ref>{{Cite web|title=財務大臣 安住 淳 －“タナボタ”の代償は“火中の栗拾い”|url=https://president.jp/articles/-/5310|website=PRESIDENT Online（プレジデントオンライン）|date=2012-01-18|accessdate=2021-11-12|language=ja}}</ref>
It's also cited that Noda, who's biggest issue was raising the consumption tax, highly valued Azumi's abilities and hoped they would be an asset in working with the opposition.<ref>日本経済新聞 2011年11月17日夕刊{{Full citation needed|date=May 2023}}</ref> Even including his time as Minister of Finance, it is relatively unusual for someone to become Minister of Finance when first joining the cabinet (his predecessor, Yoshihiko Noda, became Minister of Finance after being promoted from the Vice Minister of Finance). He was just the third person to be appointed Finance Minister in his 40s, along with former Prime Ministers Hayato Ikeda and Kakuei Tanaka. He was re-appointed as Finance Minister following both Noda cabinet reshuffles, and when Tadahiro Matsushita died in September 2011, who was serving as Minister of State for Financial Services, he took on the role.<ref>「人事異動」『官報』5885号、国立印刷局、2012年9月13日、10面。</ref>
===Acting Secretary-General === On September 28, Azumi was appointed to the role of Acting Secretary-General of the DPJ, resigning as Minister of Finance and Minister of State for Financial Services.<ref>{{Cite news |title=比例40減方針、民主が確認 衆院選挙制度改革 |newspaper=日本経済新聞 |date=2012-11-06 |url=https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNASFS0601Z_W2A101C1PP8000/}}</ref> He was replaced as Minister of Finance by Kōriki Jōjima, and Minister of State for Financial Services by Ikko Nakatsuka.
When the House of Representatives was dissolved on November 16, he took over as Secretary-General from Azuma Koshiishi, a member of the House of Councillors, and de-facto became head of the electoral strategy for the upcoming elections. As one of the faces of the DPJ, he expressed his enthusiasm by saying he'll "be on all the TV shows".<ref>{{Cite news |title=選挙の顔は安住氏？「ＴＶは全部、オレが出る」 |newspaper=読売新聞 |date=2012-11-17 |url=http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/election/shugiin/2012/news1/20121117-OYT1T00779.htm |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121119223038/http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/election/shugiin/2012/news1/20121117-OYT1T00779.htm |archivedate=2012-11-19}}</ref>
In the 2012 election, the DPJ was swept out of office, and many top officials and party veterans lost; less than 20% of the party remained in the House of Representatives. Azumi, however, won safely, becoming the only opposition representative in Miyagi. Despite his margin of victory actually increasing, the huge slate of LDP members winning in SMDs meant that Miyo Okubo, the LDP member who had run against him, had won representation off of the proportional block, the first time this had happened in Miyagi's 5th.
== 2012-2019 == === DPJ (2012-2016) === After the 2012 election, he left the post of acting Secretary-General. He was appointed to become the head of Miyagi's Democratic Party of Japan Federation, and was in charge of assisting incumbent Councillor Tomiko Okazaki in defending her seat during the 2013 Japanese House of Councillors election. Ultimately, however, the strong headwinds against the DPJ led to Okazaki coming third in the prefecture, behind the victorious LDP candidate Jiro Aichi and Your Party candidate Masamune Wada. Okazaki had held the seat since 1997.<ref>{{Cite news |title=【参院選速報】民主・岡崎氏が落選 |newspaper=産経新聞 |date=2013-07-22 |url=https://www.sankei.com/region/news/130722/rgn1307220096-n1.html}}</ref>
In September 2013 when DPJ President Banri Kaieda shuffled leadership, Azumi was appointed as the head of the Democratic Party's Great East Japan Earthquake Recovery and Reconstruction Promotion Headquarters.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dpj.or.jp/about/dpj/next_cabinet/ |title=民主党 海江田改造『次の内閣』 |accessdate=2023-05-24 |publisher=民主党|date=2013-11-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140829115250/https://www.dpj.or.jp/about/dpj/next_cabinet/ |archivedate=2014-08-29}}</ref>
At the 185th Diet session convened on October 15, 2013, he was appointed as the Special Committee Chairman on Okinawa and Northern Territories Issues. In 2014, he was appointed as the Deputy Chair of the Democratic Party's Diet Affairs Committee.<ref>{{Cite news |title=民主、国対委員長代理に安住氏 馬淵選対委員長は続投 |newspaper=日本経済新聞 |date=2014-09-19 |url=https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXLASFS19H21_Z10C14A9PP8000/}}</ref>
During the 2014 election, Miyo Okubo, who he had defeated but was revived in 2012, was unable to gain the LDP endorsement to run in Miyagi's 5th again. Instead. {{ill|Shigeaki Katsunuma|ja|勝沼栄明}}, who had previously been placed solely on the Hokkaido PR block, was selected to run in the district against Azumi. The DPJ suffered a heavy loss again with only minor gains, but Azumi was elected by a margin over 25% again. However, for similar reasons that Okubo was revived for in 2012, the extremely small amount of districts the DPJ won in Tohoku meant that even with the wide margin of Azumi's victory Katsunuma was revived and given a seat on the Tohoku PR block.
In the 2015 DPJ election, he was listed as a recommender for Katsuya Okada.<ref>{{Cite news |title=民主代表選候補の推薦人名簿 |agency=時事通信社 |date=2015-01-07 |url=http://www.jiji.com/jc/zc?k=201501%2F2015010700415&g=pol |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20150107162414/http://www.jiji.com/jc/zc?k=201501/2015010700415&g=pol |archivedate=2015-01-07}}</ref> He remained Deputy Chair of the DPJ Diet Affairs Committee after Okada won.
=== DP (2016-17) === He participated in the formation of the 2016 Democratic Party (''Minshintō'', vs ''Minshutō''), which was formed as a result of the merger of JIP and DPJ, and was tapped to become head of the Diet Affair's Committee for the new party.<ref>{{cite news|url = http://dd.hokkaido-np.co.jp/news/politics/politics/1-0250483.html|title = 民進党政調会長に山尾氏 国対委員長に安住氏 ポスト大半は民主|newspaper = 北海道新聞|date = 2016-03-24|accessdate = 2016-04-09|archiveurl = https://archive.today/20160409065903/http://dd.hokkaido-np.co.jp/news/politics/politics/1-0250483.html|archivedate = 2016-04-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url = http://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/s/article/2016032401001998.html|title = 安住国対委員長で最終調整 民進、参院選へ対決姿勢|newspaper = 東京新聞|date = 2016-03-24|accessdate = 2016-04-09|archiveurl = https://archive.today/20160409065940/http://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/s/article/2016032401001998.html|archivedate = 2016-04-09}}</ref> In the 2016 leadership election, he supported then acting leader Renhō. After her election, he expressed strong interest in becoming Secretary-General,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dailyshincho.jp/article/2016/08240553/?all=1 |title=蓮舫、民進代表選で“密約” 「安住を幹事長にはしない」 |newspaper=週刊新潮 |date=2016-08-24 |accessdate=2023-05-24}}</ref> but was instead tapped as Deputy Chair of the party.<ref>{{cite news|url = http://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2016091700164&g=pol|title = 民進代表代行に安住氏＝国対委員長は山井氏－蓮舫氏調整|newspaper = 時事通信|date = 2016-09-17|accessdate = 2016-10-10}}</ref>
At the end of 2017, Yoshihiko Noda resigned as Secretary-General following the defeat of the party in the 2017 Tokyo prefectural elections. Renhō eventually resigned as a result of being unable to find a new Secretary-General, after which Azumi apologized for being unable to fully support Renhō.<ref>{{Cite book|title=枝野立つ！ 立憲民主党のさらなる闘い|date=18 Feb 2018|publisher=河出書房新社|page=7}}</ref>
In September 2017, shortly after Seiji Maehara was elected President of the DP, Shinzo Abe dissolved the House of Representatives for a snap election. Maehara proposed merging the DP candidates into the new Kibō no Tō party led by Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, which was agreed upon by the party on September 28.<ref name="minshin">{{Cite web|author=矢野武 |url=https://kotobank.jp/word/%E6%B0%91%E9%80%B2%E5%85%9A-872951#E6.97.A5.E6.9C.AC.E5.A4.A7.E7.99.BE.E7.A7.91.E5.85.A8.E6.9B.B8.28.E3.83.8B.E3.83.83.E3.83.9D.E3.83.8B.E3.82.AB.29 |script-title=ja:民進党 |trans-title=Democratic Party|accessdate=2019-06-20 |website=Kotobank|date=12 December 2017 |language=ja|archive-date=6 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180806210702/https://kotobank.jp/word/%E6%B0%91%E9%80%B2%E5%85%9A-872951|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |script-title=ja:民進党：希望と合流 前原代表「名を捨て実取る」 |trans-title=Democratic Party: Joining forces with Hope, Maehara says "We will forgo the name and pursue the results"|newspaper=Mainichi Shimbun |date=2017-09-28 |url=https://mainichi.jp/senkyo/articles/20170928/k00/00e/010/264000c |accessdate=2019-06-20|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002085702/https://mainichi.jp/senkyo/articles/20170928/k00/00e/010/264000c|archive-date=2017-10-02|language=ja}}</ref> However, on September 29, Yuriko Koike said she would exclude candidates who opposed security legislation proposed by the Third Abe Cabinet. Koike said that candidates would be forced to accept the security legislation, or else face exclusion from party lists.<ref>{{cite news |author=吉川慧 |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.jp/entry/liberal_jp_5c5a5037e4b012928a300b53 | script-title=ja:小池知事に「排除」を宣告された、民進党リベラル派の憂鬱 |trans-title=Democratic Party liberals deplore Governor Koike's "exclusion"| newspaper=HuffPost | date=2017-09-30 | accessdate=2022-02-04|language=ja |archive-date=13 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240713222600/https://www.huffingtonpost.jp/entry/liberal_jp_5c5a5037e4b012928a300b53|url-status=live}}</ref>
On the same day, Azumi gathered prospective candidates from Miyagi to discuss how to proceed. He considered applying for candidacy under Kibō no Tō,<ref>{{Cite news |title=【衆院選】離党届きょう提出 民進宮城県連の混乱続く |newspaper=産経新聞 |date=2017-09-30 |url=https://www.sankei.com/region/news/170930/rgn1709300019-n1.html}}</ref> but the next day on September 30, the "exclusion list" of 15 DP members created by Koike was leaked. Azumi's name was present on the list.{{efn|The exclusion list included * Jun Azumi (Miyagi-5) * Yukio Edano (Saitama-5) * Yoshihiko Noda (Chiba-4) * Akira Nagatsuma (Tokyo-7) * Akihiro Hatsushika (Tokyo-16) * Naoto Kan (Tokyo-18) * Tomoko Abe (Kanagawa-12) * Takashi Shinohara (Nagano-1) * Shoichi Kondo (Aichi-3) * Hirotaka Akamatsu (Aichi-5) * Katsuya Okada (Mie-3) * Kiyomi Tsujimoto (Osaka-10) Other names considered included: * Banri Kaieda (Tokyo-1) * Yoshio Tezuka (Tokyo-5) * Mari Kushibuchi (Tokyo-23)}}<ref>{{cite news |author= |url=https://www.nikkan-gendai.com/articles/view/news/214651/2 | script-title=ja:「希望の党」公認拒否 民進"排除名簿"に載る15人の名前 (2ページ目) |trans-title=15 names on the Democratic Party's "exclusion list" for refusing to endorse the "Hope Party" (page 2)|newspaper=Nikkan Gendai | date=2017-09-30 | accessdate=2022-02-04 |language=ja |archive-date=30 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930092436/https://www.nikkan-gendai.com/articles/view/news/214651/2|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://mainichi.jp/articles/20171001/ddm/003/010/056000c | script-title=ja:衆院選2017：民進分裂、新党模索も 希望が「排除リスト」 | trans-title=Lower House Election 2017: Democratic Party splits, search for new party; Hope on "exclusion list"|newspaper=Mainichi Shimbun | date=2017-10-01 | accessdate=2022-02-23 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728183027/https://mainichi.jp/articles/20171001/ddm/003/010/056000c|archivedate=2021-07-28|language=ja}}</ref> On October 1, he announced his intention to party executives to run as an independent instead of seeking the endorsement of KnT. He formally announced on October 2 he would seek re-election as an independent.<ref>{{cite news |author= |url=https://www.sankei.com/politics/news/171002/plt1710020082-n1.html |title=【衆院選】民進元代表代行の安住淳氏「完全無所属で」 |newspaper=産経新聞 |date=2017-10-02 |accessdate=2022-02-24 |archivedate=2017-10-10 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010055238/https://www.sankei.com/politics/news/171002/plt1710020082-n1.html }}</ref>
He would go on to win by over a 25% margin, meaning that Shigeaki Katsunuma was unable to be revived on the proportional block due to the size of victory.<ref>{{Cite news |title=【衆院選】安住淳氏「解散と同時に党がなくなった。上はこんな選挙やらせちゃだめ」宮城５区で勝利 |newspaper=産経新聞 |date=2017-10-23 |url=https://www.sankei.com/article/20171023-IJH5EVCUGZLB3DD7RQQKU6U674/}}</ref>
=== Group of Independents (2017-19) === He became a founding member of the Group of Independents on October 26, 2017, comprising ex-DP members who were unwilling or unable to join Kibō no Tō and had not joined the CDP.<ref>{{Cite news |title=民進系、「無所属の会」結成＝13人参加、野党第3会派に |agency=時事通信 |date=2017-10-26 |url=https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2017102600868&g=pol |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026214019/https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2017102600868&g=pol |archivedate=2017-10-26}}</ref>
He submitted a notice to the DP on May 1, 2018, that he would not be interested in joining a new merged version of the KnT and DP, which would later manifest as the Democratic Party For the People. He declared a formal resignation from the Democratic Party in the same letter.<ref>{{Cite news |title=安住淳元財務相が民進に離党届提出 参院選前の地域政党検討も「小さな党の離合集散、付き合えない」 |newspaper=産経新聞 |date=2018-05-01 |url=https://www.sankei.com/politics/news/180501/plt1805010009-n1.html}}</ref>
== CDP (2019-)== On January 15, 2019, he formally joined the Constitutional Democratic Party, along with several other members of the Group of Independents such as Katsuya Okada.<ref>nikkei.com, 16 January 2019: [https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXMZO40068210W9A110C1PP8000/ 野田前首相ら7人が新会派 社会保障の立て直し訴え], retrieved 2019/4/13.</ref>
He stayed with the CDP when it merged with groupings of DPP and SDP lawmakers on September 19, being named Diet Affairs Chairman of the CDP on September 20.<ref>{{Cite news |title=安住氏が立民入党、国対委員長に |newspaper=日本経済新聞 |date=2019-09-19 |url=https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXMZO49984950Z10C19A9PP8000/}}</ref>
In the 2021 election, he held onto his district against newcomer Chisato Morishita by 13%, with Morishita being shut-out from being revived on the proportional block. With the inaugration of Kenta Izumi as leader of the CDP, he resigned as Diet Affairs Chair, being succeeded by Sumio Mabuchi.<ref>{{Cite web|title=立民新執行部が発足 泉代表「国民のため働く」：時事ドットコム |url=https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2021120200708&g=pol |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202055335/https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2021120200708&g=pol |url-status=dead |archive-date=2021-12-02 |website=時事ドットコム |access-date=2022-08-26 |language=ja}}</ref>
A personnel reshuffle in August 2022 saw him become Diet Affairs Chair of the party again.<ref>{{Cite web|title=立民 新執行部が発足 幹事長に岡田克也氏 国対委員長に安住氏 NHK |url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20220826/k10013788551000.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826030427/https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20220826/k10013788551000.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2022-08-26 |website=NHKニュース |access-date=2022-08-26 |last=日本放送協会}}</ref> November 2022 saw the passing of the revised Public Offices Election Bill, which redistributed and redrew electoral districts.<ref>{{Cite web|title=衆院 選挙区「10増10減」の改正公職選挙法が成立 NHK |url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20221118/k10013895651000.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221118025416/https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20221118/k10013895651000.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2022-11-18 |website=NHKニュース |access-date=2022-11-20 |date=2022-11-18}}</ref> Miyagi saw a House of Representatives seat it held cut due to population loss, reducing the prefecture from 6 to 5 seats.<ref>{{Cite web|title=衆議院小選挙区の区割りの改定等について |url=https://www.soumu.go.jp/senkyo/senkyo_s/news/senkyo/shu_kuwari/shu_kuwari_4.html|author=総務省|date=2022-11-28|accessdate=2023-01-02}}</ref> The CDP held a meeting in December following the law's passage and formally endorsed 69 candidates in the new districts, with Azumi moving from Miyagi's 5th to Miyagi's 4th. The 4th comprises much of the same territory as the 5th did, but also holds onto several districts and cities from the former 4th such as Kurokawa, Tomiya, and Tagajō.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUA137UB0T11C22A2000000/ |title=立憲民主党、公認候補69人内定 次期衆院選 |accessdate=2022-12-23 |publisher=日本経済新聞}}</ref>
In the 2024 election, Azumi ran in the 4th district. The incumbent, former Environmental Minister Shintaro Ito, stayed in the district rather than move to a different one. An Ishin candidate and a Reiwa Shinsengumi candidate also ran.<ref name="NHK-senkyo-2024-miyagi">{{cite web | url=https://www.nhk.or.jp/senkyo/database/shugiin/04/ | title=衆議院選挙2024 宮城(仙台・石巻など)開票速報・選挙結果 |website=衆議院選挙2024特設サイト | publisher=NHK | date= | accessdate=2024-10-28 }}</ref> The LDP campaign was described as a struggle, particularly due to the slush fund and Unification Church scandals.<ref>{{cite web |author= | url= https://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/article/361830| title=＜衆院選・詳報＞全議席確定 大敗の自民191議席、立民は148議席 国民、れいわは大幅議席増 | publisher=東京新聞 | date=2024-10-28 | accessdate=2024-10-28 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author= | url=https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASSBW33T6SBWUTIL00FM.html | title=旧統一教会と接点、落選 盛山氏「申し訳ない」、牧原氏「私のせい」 | publisher=朝日新聞 | date=2024-10-28 | accessdate=2024-10-28 }}</ref><ref name="jcp20241023">{{cite web | author=矢野昌弘 | url=https://www.jcp.or.jp/akahata/aik24/2024-10-23/2024102301_03_0.html | title=裏金非公認に2000万円 公認と同額 自民本部が政党助成金 | publisher=しんぶん赤旗 | date=2024-10-23 | accessdate=2024-10-24 }}</ref><ref name="asahi202410232217">{{cite web | author= | url=https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASSBR3T7QSBRUTFK01GM.html | title=裏金非公認側に2千万円 自民党本部から支部へ 公認候補と同額 | publisher=朝日新聞 | date=2024-10-23 | accessdate=2024-10-24 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author= | url=https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASSBR44W6SBROXIE007M.html | title=立憲・安住淳氏、10回目の当選確実 元環境相の伊藤信太郎氏を破る | publisher=朝日新聞 | date=2024-10-27 | accessdate=2024-10-28 }}</ref> Just after voting closed at 8:00 PM, the Asahi Shimbun announced it was sure Azumi had won the district.<ref name="NHK-senkyo-2024-hirei-tohoku-jimin">{{cite web | url=https://www.nhk.or.jp/senkyo/database/shugiin/00/hmb02_1.html | title=自由民主党 東北ブロック 比例代表候補者 |website=衆議院選挙2024特設サイト | publisher=NHK | date= | accessdate=2024-10-28 }}</ref> The LDP won five seats on the Tohoku PR block; however, the margin of defeat for the last seat on the PR block was 75.14% with Taku Nemoto, which was higher than Ito's (64.19%). Ito lost his seat entirely as a result.<ref name="yomiuri-senkyo-2024-hirei-tohoku">{{cite web | url=https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/election/shugiin/YC82XXXXXX000/ | title=比例代表 東北 比例名簿・候補者 選挙・開票結果 |website=衆院選2024 |publisher=読売新聞 | date= | accessdate=2024-10-28 }}</ref>
He became chair of the Budget Committee on November 14, the first from the opposition in over 30 years.<ref name="NHK-20241113">{{cite web | url=https://news.web.nhk/newsweb/na/na-k10014637211000 | title=衆議院の委員長決まる 予算委員長には立民の安住淳氏 |website=NHK NEWS WEB | publisher=NHK | date=2024-11-13 | accessdate=2024-12-05 }}</ref> He made his debut on December 5.<ref name="yomiuri-20241205">{{cite web | url=https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/20241205-OYT1T50207/ | title=立憲民主党の安住淳・予算委員長、「仕切り役」本格デビュー…石破首相へのヤジを制する場面も |website=読売新聞オンライン | publisher=読売新聞 | date=2024-12-05 | accessdate=2024-12-05 }}</ref>
Following the resignation of Junya Ogawa, Azumi was named Secretary-General of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUA099B00Z00C25A9000000/|title=立憲民主党、幹事長に安住淳氏発表 政調会長は本庄知史氏|newspaper=日本経済新聞|date=2025-09-11|accessdate=2025-09-12}}</ref>
==Personal life==
Azumi is married and has two children.<ref name=pmjapan>{{cite web|title=Jun Azumi |url=http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/noda/meibo/daijin/azumi_e.html |publisher=Prime Ministry of Japan |access-date=24 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120626161301/http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/noda/meibo/daijin/azumi_e.html |archive-date=26 June 2012 }}</ref>
==Notes== {{notelist}}
== References == <references/>
{{s-start}} {{s-par|jp-lwr}} {{s-new|district}} {{s-ttl|title=Member of the House of Representatives<br />for Miyagi 5th district (single-member)|years=1996–present}} {{s-inc}} {{s-bef|before=Hiroshi Imazu}} {{s-ttl|title=Chairman of the Committee on Security|years=2009–2010}} {{s-aft|after=Ken Okuda}} {{s-bef|before=Kazunori Yamanoi}} {{s-ttl|title=Chairman of the Committee on Discipline|years=2021–2022}} {{s-aft|after=Hiroshi Ogushi}} {{s-bef|before=Tatsuya Ito}} {{s-ttl|title=Chairman of the Committee on the Budget|years=2024–2025}} {{s-aft|after=Yukio Edano}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=Kazuya Shinba}} {{s-ttl|title=Senior Vice Minister of Defence|years=2010–2011}} {{s-aft|after=Katsuya Ogawa}} {{s-bef|before=Yoshihiko Noda}} {{s-ttl|title=Minister of Finance|years=2011–2012}} {{s-aft|after=Koriki Jojima}} {{s-ppo}} {{s-bef|before=Yoshio Hachiro}} {{s-ttl|title=Chairman of the Diet Affairs Committee,<br>Democratic Party|years=2011}} {{s-aft|after=Hirofumi Hirano}} {{s-new|party}} {{s-ttl|title=Chairman of the Diet Affairs Committee,<br>Democratic Party|years=2016}} {{s-aft|after=Kazunori Yamanoi}} {{s-bef|before=Kiyomi Tsujimoto}} {{s-ttl|title=Chairman of the Diet Affairs Committee,<br>Constitutional Democratic Party|years=2019–2021}} {{s-aft|after=Sumio Mabuchi}} {{s-bef|before=Sumio Mabuchi}} {{s-ttl|title=Chairman of the Diet Affairs Committee,<br>Constitutional Democratic Party|years=2022–2024}} {{s-aft|after=Hirofumi Ryu}} {{s-bef|before=Junya Ogawa}} {{s-ttl|title=Secretary General of the Constitutional Democratic Party|years=2025–2026}} {{s-aft|after=Masayo Tanabu}} {{s-new|party}} {{s-ttl|title=Secretary General of the Centrist Reform Alliance|alongside=Hiromasa Nakano|years=2026–present}} {{s-inc}} {{s-end}}
{{Japanese finance ministers}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Azumi, Jun}} Category:1962 births Category:Living people Category:Democratic Party of Japan politicians Category:Government ministers of Japan Category:Ministers of finance of Japan Category:NHK Category:Noda cabinet Category:Waseda University alumni Category:Members of the House of Representatives (Japan) 2003–2005 Category:Members of the House of Representatives (Japan) 2005–2009 Category:Members of the House of Representatives (Japan) 2009–2012 Category:Members of the House of Representatives (Japan) 2012–2014 Category:Members of the House of Representatives (Japan) 2014–2017 Category:Members of the House of Representatives (Japan) 2017–2021 Category:Members of the House of Representatives (Japan) 2021–2024 Category:Members of the House of Representatives (Japan) 2024–2026