Miyamoto, Kenji

▪ 2008

      Japanese politician

born Oct. 17, 1908, Yamaguchi prefecture, Japan

died July 18, 2007, Tokyo, Japan

held (1958–77) leadership positions in the Communist Party of Japan (JCP), serving as general secretary (1958–70) and presidium chairman (1970–97); he renounced violent revolution and instead sought to bring about change by instituting economic, health, and housing reforms. Miyamoto graduated from the Tokyo Imperial University (now the University of Tokyo) and in 1931 joined the JCP. He spent 12 years in jail after being convicted in 1933 of the beating death of a police officer, a crime he repeatedly denied having committed. Following his release, he was active in the campaign in the 1949 elections, helping the Communists gain 35 seats in the Diet (parliament). At the height of its power in 1979, the JCP commanded 8% of the Diet's seats. Miyamoto remained opposed to Stalinism and the continued U.S. presence in Japan following World War II.

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