Jon Heese

Jon Heese
Jon Heese
ジョン・ヘイズ
Personal details
Born	（1963年2月17日）February 17, 1963 (age 62); Saskatchewan, Canada
Party	Independent
Education	University of Regina

日本の政治家（1963年生まれ）

Jon Heese (ヘイズ・ジョン, born February 17, 1963) is a Canadian-born Japanese politician. He is an Independent member of the Ibaraki Prefectural Assembly (1 term). He is a former member of the Tsukuba City Council (4 terms).^[1]

Heese came to Japan from Canada in 1991,^[1] and after working as an English conversation teacher, he was first elected to the Tsukuba City Council in October 2008.

Biography

Heese was born in Saskatchewan, Canada, graduated from the University of Regina in 1991.^[2] He married a Japanese woman in 1998, and became a naturalized citizen of Japan in 2007.^[3]

Prior to entering politics, Heese worked as an English language teacher and owned a bar.^[4] He has also worked as an actor, playing (fictional) American Presidents in the tokusatsu films Nihon Igai Zenbu Chinbotsu (2006) and Monster X Strikes Back: Attack the G8 Summit (2008). Heese stated he got the parts because casting directors noticed his resemblance to former President Bill Clinton.^[4]

Political career

Heese is the third naturalized citizen from Europe or North America to become a Japanese legislator, following Marutei Tsurunen, a former member of the House of Councillors from Yugawara Town, Kanagawa Prefecture, and Anthony Bianchi, a former member of the Inuyama City Council, Aichi Prefecture.^{[citation needed]}

Heese is the president of Imagineric and a member of the Tsukuba Representative Committee of the Ibaraki Foreigners' Roundtable.^{[citation needed]}

In December 2014, Heese ran as an independent candidate for the Ibaraki Prefectural Assembly election from the Tsukuba City electoral district, but was unsuccessful. In 2016, he was elected to the Tsukuba City Assembly for a third term.^{[citation needed]}

In December 2022, Heese ran for election as a member of the Ibaraki Prefectural Assembly from Tsukuba City and won.^[5]

Filmography

Nihon Igai Zenbu Chinbotsu (2006) - President Pepiton
Monster X Strikes Back: Attack the G8 Summit (2008) - President Berger

References

^ a b Kikuchi, Naoki (July 16, 2022). "Foreign-born assemblymen try to make a difference | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis". The Asahi Shimbun.
^ ビル・アームストロング（2023年6月9日）「あまり通っていない道」Degrees Magazine。
^ Arudou, Debito (2009年2月2日). 「つくば市議会議員に選出されたジョン・ヒース氏、日本での選挙の経緯と理由について語る | debito.org」
^ ab ラム、グレッグ (2025年5月17日). 「日本の政治家であること。私の故郷での生活」. 2025年7月5日閲覧– YouTubeより。
^ 日本放送協会 (2022年12月12日). 「つくば市選挙区初当選ヘイズジョン氏「市民に感謝」｜NHK 茨城県のニュース」。NHK NEWS WEB。 2022年12月12日のオリジナルからアーカイブ。2025 年7 月 5 日に取得。

参考文献

外部リンク

[asahi-1] Kikuchi, Naoki (July 16, 2022). "Foreign-born assemblymen try to make a difference | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis". The Asahi Shimbun.

[2] ビル・アームストロング（2023年6月9日）「あまり通っていない道」Degrees Magazine。

[3] Arudou, Debito (2009年2月2日). 「つくば市議会議員に選出されたジョン・ヒース氏、日本での選挙の経緯と理由について語る | debito.org」

[:0-4] ラム、グレッグ (2025年5月17日). 「日本の政治家であること。私の故郷での生活」. 2025年7月5日閲覧– YouTubeより。

[5] 日本放送協会 (2022年12月12日). 「つくば市選挙区初当選ヘイズジョン氏「市民に感謝」｜NHK 茨城県のニュース」。NHK NEWS WEB。 2022年12月12日のオリジナルからアーカイブ。2025 年7 月 5 日に取得。