Kayoko Shimizu


Kayoko Shimizu is a Japanese politician and nurse. She has served as the Minister of the Environment Agency and a member of the House of Councillors, as well as various other governmental and political party positions.

Early life and nursing career

Shimizu graduated from Kitazono High School in Tokyo and the Department of Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo. As a nurse, she served as head nurse of the nursing department at Kanto Teishin Hospital, a lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, and head of the Nursing Division of the Medical Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Health and Welfare. She served as Chair of the Japan Nursing Federation from June 2009 to July 2013.

Political career

In the 15th regular election for the House of Councillors in 1989, she was endorsed by the Liberal Democratic Party and recommended by the Japanese Nursing Association and the Japanese Nursing Federation, and ran in the proportional representation district of the House of Councillors, winning her first election. She was elected three times in a row. She was a member of the Seiwa-kai faction within the party. After serving as Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Labor and Chairman of the House of Councillors' Education Committee, she first joined the Obuchi Cabinet in 1999 as Minister of the Environment. She was reappointed to the first Mori Cabinet, which was formed the following year. She retired from politics in 2007. In November 2007, she was awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun.
Shimizu was part of the scandal of that was discovered in 2004.

Books

  • "Our Law: Commentary on the Public Health Nurse, Midwife and Nurse Law" Japan Nursing Association Publishing, 1985
  • "Our Law: Learning about the Law for Public Health Nurses, Midwives, and Nurses" 2nd Edition, Japan Nursing Association Publishing, 1988
  • "A First-Year Diet Member's Nagatacho Diary: 365 Days of Shimizu Kayoko," Shimizu Kayoko Policy Research Group, 1990
  • "Nagatacho Diary: Kayoko Shimizu's Activities" Kayoko Shimizu Policy Research Group, 1992
  • "Creating a Recycling-Based Society and Medical Waste" Japan Nursing Association Publishing, 2001

Co-editor

  • "Nursing Law Handbook" co-edited by Toyoko Kadowaki, Igaku Shoin, 1984
  • "Nursing for all: Nursing in Society" Japan Nursing Association Publishing, 1988
  • Nursing Law Handbook 1997 Edition, co-edited by Toyoko Kadowaki and Hiroko Moriyama, Japan Nursing Association Publishing, 1997
  • "Nursing and Care Legislation Handbook" co-edited by Toyoko Kadowaki, Igaku Shoin, 2001