| Native name | 栗原 渉 |
|---|---|
| Office | Member of the House of Representatives |
| Term start | 28 October 2024 |
| Predecessor | Kaname Tsutsumi |
| Constituency | Fukuoka 5th |
| Office 1 | Member of the Fukuoka Prefectural Assembly |
| Term start 1 | April 2010 |
| Term end 1 | 14 October 2021 |
| Constituency 1 | Asakura & Asakura District |
| Birth date | 27 September 1965 (age 60) |
| Birth place | Amagi, Fukuoka, Japan |
| Party | Liberal Democratic |
| Alma mater | Tokyo International University |
| Website | Wataru Kurihara website |
Wataru Kurihara (栗原 渉, Kurihara Wataru) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who serves as a member of the House of Representatives.[1]
Early years
Born and raised in Amagi, Fukuoka Prefecture in 1965.[2]
After graduating from Tokyo International University, he served a secretary to Seiichi Ōta from 1990 to 2009.[2]
Political career
In 2010, Kurihara ran for the Fukuoka Prefectural Assembly and was elected for the first time.[3]
On 14 October 2021, Kurihara resigned as a member of the Fukuoka Prefectural Assembly and sought to run for Fukuoka 5th district in the general election. However, instead of promising to nominate Kurihara in the next general election, LDP headquarters nominated incumbent Yoshiaki Harada. Therefore, Kurihara gave up his candidacy.[4] However, Several organizations had already supported Kurihara, leaving a lump with Harada.[5] As a result, Harada lost to CDP's Kaname Tsutsumi and lost re-election.[6]
In the 2024 general election, Kurihara defeated CDP's Tsutsumi and gain Fukuoka 5th's seat.[7]
In the 2025 LDP presidential election, Kurihara endorsed Yoshimasa Hayashi as a recommender.[8]
In 2025, Kurihara was appointed to Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Labour and Welfare in the First Takaichi cabinet.[9]
In the 2026 general election, Kurihara defeated DPP's Kenichi Kawamoto by a large margin and hold the seat.[10] After the election, he was re-appointed to Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Labour and Welfare in the Second Takaichi cabinet.[11]
References
- ^ "Wataru Kurihara" (in Japanese). LDP. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ^ "Profile of Wataru Kurihara" (in Japanese). Ken Hirose Official Website. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ^ "福岡県議会議員補欠選挙" (in Japanese). Senkyo.com. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ^ "福岡５区は栗原氏が出馬断念、自民は分裂回避" (in Japanese). Sankei Shimbun. 23 October 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ^ "保守分裂回避も残る溝 出馬断念の前県議、支援者に謝罪 福岡5区" (in Japanese). The Asahi Shimbun. 17 October 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ^ "自民・原田氏が落選 支持層まとめ切れず 福岡５区" (in Japanese). Sankei Shimbun. 1 November 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ^ "福岡5区 衆議院選挙" (in Japanese). The Yomiuri Shimbun. 27 October 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ^ "林芳正氏の推薦人一覧 自民党総裁選2025" (in Japanese). The Nikkei. 22 September 2025. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
- ^ "The TAKAICHI Cabinet List of Parliamentary Vice-Ministers". PM office of Japan. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ^ "福岡5区 小選挙区【衆議院選挙】開票速報・結果" (in Japanese). The Yomiuri Shimbun. 8 February 2026. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ^ "List of Parliamentary Vice-Ministers". PM office of Japan. Retrieved 11 March 2026.