Hideo Higashikokubaru
| Hideo Higashikokubaru | |
|---|---|
| 東国原 英夫 | |
 |
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| Member of the House of Representatives of Japan | |
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In office 21 December 2012 – 17 December 2013 |
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| Constituency | Kinki PR block |
| Governor of Miyazaki Prefecture | |
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In office 23 January 2007 – 20 January 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Tadahiro Ando |
| Succeeded by | Shunji Kōno |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
September 16, 1957 Miyakonojō, Miyazaki, Japan |
| Political party |
Japan Restoration Party (2012-2013) |
| Other political affiliations |
Independent (2007-2012) |
| Spouse(s) |
Kazuko Kato (1990-2006 divorced) |
| Alma mater | Senshu University |
| Occupation | Comedian, politician |
| Website | Official website |
Hideo Higashikokubaru (東国原 英夫 Higashikokubaru Hideo?, born September 16, 1957), is a Japanese politician. He originally rose to fame as a comedian under the stage name Sonomanma Higashi (そのまんま東?, literally "Higashi without change" or "simply Higashi"), and was known for his role in the popular game show Takeshi's Castle.
He served as the Governor of Miyazaki Prefecture from 2007 to 2011, resigining to run against incumbent Shintarō Ishihara for Governor of Tokyo in the 2011 election, where he came in second. He was elected to the House of Representatives in the general election of 2012, but resigned in December 2013.
Higashikokubaru was born in Miyakonojō, a city in Miyazaki Prefecture and attended Senshu University from 1976 to 1980, where he majored in economics. After graduating from Senshu, Higashikokubaru apprenticed to Takeshi Kitano and became a comedian in 1982.
He appeared on Takeshi's Castle, which was dubbed on United States television as Most Extreme Elimination Challenge (MXC); Higashikokubaru was dubbed as "Kenny Blankenship" in the American version.
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