Key Facts
Former House of Representatives member Shiori Yamao, 50, has announced her candidacy for the upcoming summer House of Councillors election under the proportional representation system, representing the Democratic Party for the People. On May 16, Yamao updated her blog to explain her decision to resume political activities under her former name, “Shiori Yamao,” rather than her legal name, “Shiori Kanno.”
Yamao clarified the reasoning behind her name choice, stating, “I was often asked, ‘Which name is the original?’ I was born as ‘Shiori Kanno,’ adopted the name ‘Shiori Yamao’ upon marriage, and reverted to ‘Shiori Kanno’ after my divorce.” She further explained that her professional roles have historically been associated with different names: her work as a prosecutor and lawyer is linked to “Kanno,” while her political career is tied to “Yamao.”
After retiring from politics in 2021, Yamao had been using her legal name, “Shiori Kanno,” in her professional endeavors. However, her decision to re-enter politics presented a challenge regarding name usage. Japanese election rules do not allow the simultaneous use of a legal name and a commonly known name on ballots. Yamao expressed her internal conflict, stating, “I had to choose between registering ‘Yamao’ as my official name or using ‘Kanno.’ While this is not entirely unreasonable, it caused significant confusion and deep reflection.”
Ultimately, Yamao decided to use “Shiori Yamao” for her political comeback, citing her established recognition under this name. She remarked, “Considering the impact on my team and others involved, I concluded that continuing as ‘Yamao’ was the most practical choice.”
Yamao dismissed suggestions to “refresh” her image by using “Kanno,” emphasizing her commitment to her political legacy as “Shiori Yamao.”
Former House of Representatives member Shiori Yamao, 50, has declared her candidacy for the upcoming House of Councillors election under the Democratic Party for the People’s proportional representation system. On May 16, Yamao announced via her blog that she would resume political activities under her former name, “Shiori Yamao,” instead of her legal name, “Shiori Kanno.”
Yamao explained her decision, noting that her professional identity has been tied to different names: “Kanno” for her work as a prosecutor and lawyer, and “Yamao” for her political career. Japanese election rules prohibit the use of both a legal name and a commonly known name on ballots, forcing her to choose. She ultimately opted for “Yamao,” citing her established recognition in politics.
Rejecting suggestions to “refresh” her image by using “Kanno,” Yamao emphasized her commitment to her political legacy under the name “Shiori Yamao.”
