Ichio Asukata

Ichio Asukata
Chair of the Japan Socialist Party
In office 17 December 1977 – 7 September 1983
Preceded by	Tomomi Narita
Succeeded by	Masashi Ishibashi
Mayor of Yokohama
In office 23 April 1963 – 1 March 1978
Preceded by	Kiyoshi Nakarai
Succeeded by	Michikazu Saigo
Personal details
Born	April 2, 1915 Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture
Died	October 11, 1990 (aged 75)
Political party	Japan Socialist Party
Alma mater	Meiji University

Ichio Asukata (飛鳥田 一雄 Asukata Ichio, April 2, 1915 – October 11, 1990) was a Japanese politician who served as chairman of the Japan Socialist Party, and as mayor of Yokohama from 1963 to 1978.

Asukata rose to prominence as a left-wing parliamentarian during the 1950s and was a vocal opponent of the 1960 security treaty with the United States.^[1]

As mayor of Yokohama he was a pioneer of progressive governance focused on improving quality of life, and inspired imitators in several other cities, including Tokyo governor Ryokichi Minobe.^[1]

As chairman of the JSP from 1977 to 1983, he attempted to expand the party's membership and realign its platform to a more European-style social democratic model, but was largely unsuccessful in boosting the party's standing.^[1]

References

1. Stockwin, J.A.A. (27 August 2003). Dictionary of the Modern Politics of Japan. Routledge. pp. 11–12.