is a Japanese politician, the general-secretary of the Democratic Party for the People (DPP). He is serving as a member of the House of Councillors. Known as Yuichiro Tamaki's right-hand man, he played a key role in the DPP's surge
Early life and education Kazuya Shimba was born in Kikugawa, Shizuoka Prefecture on 25 April 1967. His father is Tatsuo Shimba, a local councilor who also served as mayor of Kikugawa.
After graduating high school, Shimba went to the United States to study political science at Otterbein University in Ohio, where he earned a bachelor's degree. He also went to a university in Israel.
Political career After returning to Japan, Shimba became a Kikugawa assemblyman in 1994. He ran an unsuccessful campaign in the 1998 Kikugawa mayoral election.
In 2001 House of Councillors election, Shimba ran as a Democratic Party candidate in Shizuoka at-large district and got elected.
His focus is on diplomacy and defense, serving as Vice Minister of Defense and Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs.
After the dissolution of the DPJ, he joined the Democratic Party For the People and currently serves as the secretary general of the Democratic Party For the People.
He is on close enough terms with Tarō Asō to lend and borrow manga with him (though he later clarified in a YouTube interview that he did not actually borrow manga, and had only made the comment as a joke to reporters),選挙ドットコムちゃんねる (2026-07-11). "【高市官邸との本当の関係は？】高市自民「番頭役・裏方」不在が国会に与えた影響は？／今こそ考えたい参院の存在意義／「麻生さんにマンガ借りに行った」その真相とは？【玉木雄一郎×榛葉賀津也】｜選挙ドットコム". YouTube. Retrieved 2026-09-28. (At 50:11) and despite being in the opposition, he maintains a relatively cooperative stance toward the Takaichi administration. Additionally, he is well known for his pro-Israel political leanings.
References
External links in Japanese.