1 Jul 2026
Illustrious four terms as a member of Japan's House of Representatives
Mark Logan, the UK-Asia political risk and public affairs consultant and former Member of Parliament for Bolton North East, met with Fukushima Nobuyuki, the veteran Japanese politician, during a visit to Tokyo this week.
Fukushima, born in Hitachi, Ibaraki Prefecture, is a graduate of the University of Tokyo's Faculty of Agriculture and began his career as a bureaucrat at the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (later METI) before entering politics.
He went on to serve four terms as a member of Japan's House of Representatives for the Ibaraki 1st district, sitting as an independent following stints with the Democratic Party of Japan and the Kibō no Tō (Party of Hope).
Beyond the Diet, Fukushima has held academic posts including visiting professor at the University of Tsukuba and part-time lecturer at Gakushuin Women's College.
During the meeting, Logan and Fukushima discussed the latest political, economic and commercial developments in Japan and the wider Asia-Pacific region, as well as developments in British politics and the opportunities these present for deepening UK-Japan relations.
Logan, a regional expert on East Asia who provides advisory support to senior figures and organisations across the UK-Asia corridor, reflected on the significance of the meeting.
"Having met with Mr Fukushima and a large Japanese parliamentary delegation in the UK, it was a joy to reciprocate this time in Japan," Logan said.
The meeting forms part of Logan's ongoing engagement with Japan, building on his long-standing work strengthening ties between the UK and Japan across government, business and academic circles.