was the governor of Chiba Prefecture in Japan from 2001 to 2009. A graduate of Tokyo Woman's Christian University, she was the first female governor of Chiba and the third in Japanese history. She was first elected in 2001. In September 2001 she canceled a controversial plan to reclaim the Sanbanze wetlands as landfill. Historian Jeff Kingston called this act "a major victory for activists." References External links 1932 births Living people Japanese feminists Japanese women journalists Female Japanese governors Female members of the House of Councillors (Japan) Members of the House of Councillors (Japan) Governors of Chiba Prefecture