Former Japanese Communist Party leader Kazuo Shii has announced he will not run in the next Lower House election. After serving 23 years as party head, the longest tenure in JCP history, Shii aims to pass the seat to the next generation. He made the statement at a news conference in Tokyo's Diet building on Friday.
Former Japanese Communist Party (JCP) leader Kazuo Shii announced on Friday, January 16 or 17, 2026, that he will not contest the next House of Representatives election. "I thought it was natural to hand over the seat to the next (generation) at the earliest opportunity," Shii said at a news conference in Tokyo's Diet building.
Shii served as JCP chair from 2000 to 2024, marking the longest tenure in the party's history at 23 years. He assumed the role of Central Committee chair in January 2024 and plans to continue in that position. He was succeeded as party leader by Tomoko Tamura.
Born in Chiba Prefecture, Shii became head of the JCP secretariat in 1990 at age 35. He was first elected to the Lower House in 1993 from the former No. 1 constituency in Chiba and has won 11 consecutive terms. Following the shift to single-seat constituencies, he ran as an independent in the southern Kanto proportional representation bloc.
Known for his soft-spoken demeanor and as a symbol of the party's realistic and flexible approach, Shii proposed in 2015 forming a coalition government to abolish national security-related laws. He advocated for joint efforts among opposition parties to establish such a coalition. In 2016, Shii and other executives attended the Diet session opening ceremony for the first time, where then-Emperor Akihito, now Emperor Emeritus, delivered a speech.
Shii's decision highlights a generational shift within the JCP, drawing attention to the party's future direction.
