Harue Yamashita (Japanese: 山下春江, 9 August 1901 – 19 March 1985) was a Japanese politician. She was one of the first group of women elected to the House of Representatives in 1946.[1]
Biography
Yamashita was born in Hagi in 1901. She graduated from Nikaido Gymnasium in 1921, after which she worked as a teacher at Kure High School for Girls [ja]. After resigning due to a dispute with the principal over exams, she became a reporter for Osaka Mainichi Shimbun [ja]. She married Etsuzo Yamashita and became manager of his Fuji Asbestos Industry company after he became ill. During World War II she was evacuated to the village of Bohata after the factory was destroyed.
Yamashita then joined the Kaishintō party and was elected back to the House of Representatives in 1952. She was subsequently re-elected in 1953. After joining the Shintō Dōshikai, she was re-elected again in 1955, after which she became a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. She was re-elected in 1958, serving until the 1960 elections. In 1962 she was elected to the House of Councillors. Re-elected in 1968, she served until 1974.