These, Kazuo

Shi was born in Yotsukaido , Chiba Prefecture , Japan . He graduated from the University of Tokyo with a bachelor's degree in technical sciences in physics and engineering . Kazuo joined the Communist Party of Japan (CPJ) in his first year at the university and became an active member of the student wing of the party. After completing his studies at the University of Tokyo, he got a job on the CPJ committee in Tokyo, took responsibility for organizing youth student movements. He has been working in the Central Committee of the CPJ since 1982.

In 1990, Sii became the head of the Secretariat and was elected a member of the House of Representatives in 1993. At a party congress in 2000, Sii was elected party leader. Shi became the first chairman of the CPJ to visit South Korea and the first Japanese politician to visit the Sodemun Prison . He paid tribute to Korean anti-colonial activists who were imprisoned during Japanese colonialism.

Kazuo plays the piano. He claims that music is “part of his life” and seriously thought about becoming a musician. When he was about to enter university, he thought to study music or physics, and in the end he chose physics. Sii says that his favorite composers are Franz Schubert and Dmitry Shostakovich . ^[one]

• shii.gr.jp - the official website of Kazuo Shii (Japanese)
• Interview with CB Liddell in Metropolis magazine.
• Kazuo Shii: Comments from the Japanese Communist Party on the upcoming election.