Shohei Niimi

Shohei Niimi
新実 彰平
Niimi in 2026
Member of the House of Councillors
Incumbent
Assumed office
29 July 2025
Preceded byAkiko Kurabayashi
ConstituencyKyoto at-large
Personal details
Born (1989-04-10) 10 April 1989 (age 37)
Kyoto, Japan
PartyInnovation
EducationKyoto University (LL.B.)

Shohei Niimi (新実彰平, Niimi Shohei; born 10 April 1989) is a Japanese politician who has served as a member of the House of Councillors in 2025. A member of Ishin no Kai (Japan Innovation Party), Niimi previosuly worked as a television presenter for Kansai TV from 2012 to 2024

Biography

Early life, education, and career

Niimi was born in on 10 April 1989 in Sakyo- ku, a ward of Kyoto City, the capital of Kyoto Prefecture. He attended Kyoto University, where he was a member of the university's baseball team. He studied Law and Politics at the Faculty of Law school, graduating in 2012.

Upon graduation, he joined Kansai Television as an announcer. Beginning in October 2012, he hosted his first regular program since joining the company, as a sports caster on Mondays and Tuesdays. In 2014, Niimi received the Best Newcomer Award at the 30th annual Fuji Television Announcer Awards.[citation needed] He received the Announcing Award (Grand Prize) at the 32nd annual Fuji Television Announcer Awards in 2016.[citation needed] Niimi also appeared in a drama series that aired for a short period on Kansai Television in 2017. In March of that year, he became the youngest main caster in the history of Kansai Television's weekday evening news program, at the age of 27. He returned to sportscasting in March 2023. Niimi left the station in September 2024, in part due to controversial remarks regarding former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe following his assassination in 2022.

Political career

On 12 October 2024, Niimi announced his intention to stand as a candidate for the Japan Innovation Party in the 2025 Upper House election, seeking to represent Kyoto at-large. In the election held on 20 Juky 2025, Niimi was victorious, claiming about 28% of the vote to become one of two people to represent Kyoto in the House of Councillors, along with the LDP's Shoji Nishida, who came in second place following Niimi.

Political views

Niimi supports expanding Japan's social safety net. He is in favor of providing financial support for families with children to alleviate the declining birth rate. Niimi has advocated for a universal basic income.

He supported the My Number card integration reforms implemented by then-Digital Minister Kono Taro during the Fumio Kishida administration.

Niimi supports a ban on corporate donations to political parties.

He is in favor of amending Article 9 of the Constitution to explicitly state the existence of the Self-Defense Forces, and supports the US-Japan alliance. In 2025, Niimi said he was in favor of increasing defense spending.

On social issues, he supports the concept of a "female Emperor", the legalization of same-sex marriage, and allowing married couples to have separate surnames.

Personal life

In September 2014, Niimi married the former manager of his university's baseball team, Ayaki, a woman one year his junior from Fukuoka Prefecture. He has two children, born in 2019 and 2021, respectively. Niimi is friends with Koki Ozora, a member of the House of Representatives for the Liberal Democratic Party since 2024. He is a fan of the Hanshin Tigers baseball team.

Electoral history

Niimi delivering a speech at Shijō Kawaramachi, December 2024.

Niimi won a seat in the House of Councillors in the 2025 election, representing Kyoto at-large.

2025
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ishin Shohei Niimi 332,523 28.1
LDP Shoji Nishida (Incumbent)
(Endorsed by Komeito) 		190,104 16.1%
JCP Akiko Kurabayashi 163,805 13.8%
Sanseito Aoto Taniguchi 142,371 12.0%
Centrist Reform Wakako Yamamoto 127,874 10.8%
Turnout

References

  1. ↑ "維新、参院京都選挙区で初議席 新実彰平氏「生きやすい社会つくる」". The Nikkei (in Japanese). 20 July 2025.
  2. ↑ "維新が元関テレアナの新実彰平氏を擁立へ 来夏の参院京都選挙区で". The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). 12 October 2024.
  3. ↑ "京都大学硬式野球部 Dark Blue Member 2011". Archived from the original on 10 August 2011.
  4. ↑ "カンテレ新実彰平アナが役者デビュー 『大阪環状線 Part2』放送決定". オリコンニュース（ORICON NEWS）. 16 September 2016.
  5. ↑ INC, SANKEI DIGITAL (9 March 2017). "カンテレ史上最年少！新実アナ、夕方報道番組のメインに". サンスポ (in Japanese).
  6. ↑ スポニチアネックス取材班 (24 March 2023). "カンテレ・新実彰平アナが7年ぶりプロ野球実況復帰へ 「報道ランナー」終了への思いとともにSNSで報告 - スポニチ Sponichi Annex 芸能". スポニチ Sponichi Annex (in Japanese).
  7. ↑ 前のニュース 次のニュース スポニチアネックス取材班 (27 September 2024). "カンテレ新実彰平アナ退社 安倍元首相めぐる発言で炎上も…「今後はテレビとは別の手段で精進を」 - スポニチ Sponichi Annex 芸能". スポニチ Sponichi Annex (in Japanese).
  8. ↑ 松浦隆司 (12 October 2024). "元カンテレ新実彰平氏「長くなるのはキャスター時代から」約17分の出馬表明 来夏参院京都選挙区 - 社会 : 日刊スポーツ". nikkansports.com (in Japanese).
  9. ↑ 日本放送協会 (20 July 2025). "参議院選挙 京都選挙区 維新 新実彰平氏 初めての当選". NHKニュース.
  10. 1 2 日本維新の会 (12 October 2024). 【LIVE配信】2024年10月12日(土)14:00～ 日本維新の会 幹事長 藤田文武 記者会見 (in jp) – via www.youtube.com.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  11. 1 2 3 日本放送協会 (July 2025). "京都の候補者に聞いた2025参議院選挙 NHK独自のアンケート調査結果を届け出順に掲載しています。". www.nhk.or.jp (in Japanese).
  12. ↑ Niimi, Shohei [@niimishohei] (14 October 2024). "生活を担保できるレベルのベーシックインカムがただちに実装できれば良いでしょうが、財源の面から残念ながらそこには高いハードルがあります。AI化やロボット化が進み、低労働かつ超高生産性の時代が到来した時に"備える"ものとして検討する段階だと考えざるを得ないでしょう。" (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).
  13. ↑ Niimi, Shohei [@niimishohei] (25 February 2025). "ご質問、貴重な説明の機会を頂き、ありがとうございます！もちろん受け取っていません。私が資金計画を立てる際に、企業団体献金は、そもそも選択肢にも上がりません" (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).
  14. ↑ "関テレ・新実彰平アナが結婚へ お相手は1歳年下の大学野球部"後輩"". オリコンニュース（ORICON NEWS）. 5 November 2014.
  15. ↑ mirimariニュースサイト (13 July 2022). "新実彰平の嫁は美人「家族思いで月曜日は開放感」関西テレビ番組発言で炎上". mirimariニュースサイト (in Japanese).
  16. ↑ Niimi, Shohei [@niimishohei] (4 July 2025). "ご6歳と4歳の子どもを育てながら臨む選挙。 これからも京都で子育てをしていきます。 あなたと一緒に、未来を育てたい。 その一心で。今日も。" (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).
  17. ↑ @shohei.niimi; (19 December 2025). "尊敬する人！大空幸星さんと打ち合わせ。大学在学中にNPOを立ち上げ、「24時間対応チャット相談窓口」を運営。最年少衆院議員。キャスター時代から尊敬し、プライベートでアプローチして以来のお付き合い。番組でも2年間ご一緒しました。お互い、こんなことになるなんてね。背中追いかけます。一緒に社会をアップデートしよう。" – via Instagram.
  18. ↑ スポニチアネックス取材班 (14 December 2023). "【アレのアレをありがとう】カンテレ・新実彰平アナ 日本S第7戦実況「刺し身を刺し身のまま」 - スポニチ Sponichi Annex 野球". スポニチ Sponichi Annex (in Japanese).
  19. ↑ 日本放送協会 (20 July 2025). "京都 選挙区". www.nhk.or.jp (in Japanese).