Ryuhei Kawada
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese activist, haemophilia
c, and member of the House of Councillors
.
contracted HIV
via tainted blood products
. Upon discovering he was one of the affected, Ryuhei Kawada joined the lawsuit against Green Cross Corporation
that provided the tainted blood products, which eventually led to the guilty pleas from three executives in 1997.
, Kawada won a seat in the House of Councillors. He has expressed a desire to work on issues of health, welfare, and labour. He has also indicated he will form a Green Party of Japan based on the Rainbow and Greens
which supported his campaign. He belonged to Your Party
in December 2009.
Haemophilia
Haemophilia is a group of hereditary genetic disorders that impair the body's ability to control blood clotting or coagulation, which is used to stop bleeding when a blood vessel is broken. Haemophilia A is the most common form of the disorder, present in about 1 in 5,000–10,000 male births...
c, and member of the House of Councillors
House of Councillors
The is the upper house of the Diet of Japan. The House of Representatives is the lower house. The House of Councillors is the successor to the pre-war House of Peers. If the two houses disagree on matters of the budget, treaties, or designation of the prime minister, the House of Representatives...
.
HIV-tainted blood scandal in Japan
In the late 1980s, between one and two thousand Japanese patients with haemophiliaHaemophilia
Haemophilia is a group of hereditary genetic disorders that impair the body's ability to control blood clotting or coagulation, which is used to stop bleeding when a blood vessel is broken. Haemophilia A is the most common form of the disorder, present in about 1 in 5,000–10,000 male births...
contracted HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
via tainted blood products
HIV-tainted blood scandal (Japan)
, refers to an event in the 1980s when between one and two thousand haemophilia patients in Japan contracted HIV via tainted blood products. Controversy centers on the continued use of non-heat-treated blood products after the development of heat-treatments that prevent the spread of infection...
. Upon discovering he was one of the affected, Ryuhei Kawada joined the lawsuit against Green Cross Corporation
Green Cross (japan)
Green Cross Corporation was one of the premier pharmaceutical companies in Japan. The company merged into Yoshitomi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. on April 1, 1998, and renamed to Welfide Corporation on April 1, 2000. Finally Welfide Corp. and Mitsubishi-Tokyo Pharmaceutical Inc...
that provided the tainted blood products, which eventually led to the guilty pleas from three executives in 1997.
Political career
In the Japanese House of Councillors election, 2007Japanese House of Councillors election, 2007
The for the upper house of the legislature of Japan were held on July 29, 2007. This was the only time Prime Minister Shinzō Abe had faced an election...
, Kawada won a seat in the House of Councillors. He has expressed a desire to work on issues of health, welfare, and labour. He has also indicated he will form a Green Party of Japan based on the Rainbow and Greens
Rainbow and Greens
Rainbow and Greens , was a Green political organization in Japan from 1998–2008. It was a nationwide network of prefectural assembly members, usually running on local platforms variously named as "living citizen network", "living club", "living cooperative" or the Rainbow and Greens 500-Member List...
which supported his campaign. He belonged to Your Party
Your Party
is a center-right Japanese political party. Led by Yoshimi Watanabe, who split from the Liberal Democratic Party , the party was founded on August 8, 2009 after then-Prime Minister Aso dissolved the lower house. A concept behind the party is to make the government more democratic, and to eliminate...
in December 2009.
External links
- Ryuhei Kawada official campaign supporters' website
Articles about Ryuhei Kawada (in English)
- Japan Times (2007-07-13): Novice candidates have issues
- Asahi (2007-07-23): Cover Story: Signs of change
- Boston Globe via Japan Society: Ryuhei Kawada
- Statement to Global Young Greens meeting, January 2007 (in English)