Sayuri Uenishi (上西 小百合) (born April 30, 1983) is a Japanese politician and tarento. She served two terms in the House of Representatives before being expelled from her party for skipping a Diet session, then getting caught in a couple of scandals.
Uenishi was born in Habikino, Osaka on April 30, 1983. She studied at Kobe College.[1] After graduation she worked for a few years for an insurance company and a beauty company before she became interested in politics in 2012.[2]
Uenishi was elected to the House of Representatives during the 2012 Japanese general election. She represented the 4th district of Osaka, and was a member of the Japan Restoration Party. She then became a member of the Japan Innovation Party when the Japan Restoration party merged with them in 2015.
In 2015 Uenishi missed a session during which the Diet voted on the national budget. She said that she was ill, but went out to an izakaya with another lawmaker that night.[3] Toru Hashimoto, one of the leaders of the Japan Innovation Party, expelled her after speaking with her about the matter. A few months later she was caught giving 800,000 yen in campaign funds to her father, who also served as her private secretary.[3] In August 2015 she released an autobiography that included photographs of herself in suggestive poses.[4]
Uenishi tweeted a rude message at the Urawa Red Diamonds soccer team for losing a match in 2017. Urawa fans then responded to her, starting a Twitter argument that culminated in death threats being sent to her office.[5]
At a press conference on September 24, 2017 she announced that she would not run for office during the next election.[6]
In 2018 she decided to become a tarento, and was hired by a production company.[7] She appeared on Mecha-Mecha Iketeru! and London Hearts.
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