Yasuhiko Funago

{{Short description|Japanese politician}} {{Expand Japanese|topic=bio|舩後靖彦|date=October 2021}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Yasuhiko Funago | native_name = {{nobold|舩後靖彦}} | native_name_lang = ja | image = 舩後靖彦.jpg | caption = Funago in 2019 | office = Member of the House of Councillors | constituency = National PR | term_start = 29 July 2019 | term_end = 28 July 2025 | predecessor = | successor = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1957|10|4|df=y}} | birth_place = Gifu City, Gifu, Japan | death_date = | death_place = | alma_mater = Takushoku University | party = Reiwa Shinsengumi | other_party = }} {{nihongo|'''Yasuhiko Funago'''|舩後靖彦|Funago Yasuhiko| born 4 October 1957}} is a Japanese politician and former member of the House of Councillors. He and fellow councillor Eiko Kimura became the first people with severe disabilities elected to Japan's National Diet in 2019.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-08-01 |title=Japan's first severely disabled lawmakers join parliament |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-49188555 |access-date=2022-03-24}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Osaki |first=Tomohiro |date=2019-08-01 |title=Opposition lawmakers with severe disabilities make Upper House debut after steps taken toward creating barrier-free Diet |work=The Japan Times |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/08/01/national/politics-diplomacy/opposition-lawmakers-severe-disabilities-make-upper-house-debut-steps-taken-toward-creating-barrier-free-diet/ |access-date=2019-08-04 |issn=0447-5763}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-08-01 |title=Disabled lawmakers join Japan's parliament |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-49188555 |access-date=2019-08-04}}</ref> He is a member of the Reiwa Shinsengumi.<ref name=":0" />

ALS has caused him to lose much of his mobility, requiring a full-time caregiver.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-japanese-legislator-with-lou-gehrigs-disease-aims-to-stop-abuse-of-disabled-11564487517|title=New Japanese Legislator With Lou Gehrig's Disease Aims to Stop Abuse of Disabled|last=Davis|first=River|work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=2019-08-04}}</ref>

== Early life == Funago was born in Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture. He moved to Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture when he was 10 years old and attended Chiba Minami Prefectural High School. After graduating high school, he studied under the Faculty of Political Science and Economics at Takushoku University.

Although he originally wanted to become a professional musician, Funago became an employee of Sakata Watch Trading Co., Ltd. after graduating university in 1982. A few years later, at the age of 28, he married.

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== External links == * {{Cite web|url=https://www.sangiin.go.jp/japanese/joho1/kousei/eng/members/profile/7019033.htm|title=Mr.FUNAGO Yasuhiko：House of Councillors|website=www.sangiin.go.jp|access-date=2019-08-04|archive-date=2019-08-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804132442/http://www.sangiin.go.jp/japanese/joho1/kousei/eng/members/profile/7019033.htm|url-status=dead}} {{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Funago, Yasuhiko}} Category:1957 births Category:Living people Category:Members of the House of Councillors (Japan) Category:Japanese politicians with disabilities Category:People with motor neuron disease Category:21st-century Japanese politicians Category:Politicians from Gifu Prefecture Category:Reiwa Shinsengumi politicians Category:Japanese wheelchair users