The Japanese Communist Party (JCP) chose Tomoko Tamura as its first-ever female leader Thursday, apparently in the hope of broadening its support base and attracting a wider array of voters.
Upper House member Tamura, 58, takes over the chair of the 102-year-old political party ¡ª Japan¡¯s oldest ¡ª from 69-year-old Kazuo Shii, who had served in the position since 2000 and was the longest-serving head of a major Japanese political party. The decision was made on the final day of the party¡¯s congress in the city of Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture.
Also Thursday, Shii was appointed chair of the JCP¡¯s central committee, a key policy-making body, where he will continue to have a strong influence over the party¡¯s direction.
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