Azuma Koshiishi

Koshiishi became general secretary of the DPJ on August 31, 2011, the first upper house member of the party to occupy the position,[6] and at 75 years of age, the oldest person ever to become general secretary of the party.[4] His appointment happened as Yoshihiko Noda replaced Naoto Kan as president of the ruling DPJ and therefore prime minister of Japan. Ichiro Ozawa, former DPJ president and powerbroker, had wanted Banri Kaieda in the role of DPJ president instead of Noda. Koshiishi had close ties to Ozawa[1] and Noda appointing him was an attempt at achieving party unity.[7] The attempt was ultimately unsuccessful, as despite Koshiishi attempting to smooth over differences,[8] following Noda's administration passing an increase to the consumption tax from 5% to 10% through the lower house of the diet Ozawa and dozens of lawmakers from his faction left the party in July 2012 to form People's Life First.[9]

Koshiishi was re-appointed general secretary by Noda in September 2012. After Noda won re-election as DPJ president on September 21 he asked Koshiishi to remain in office. Koshiishi refrained from accepting the post again, but accepted it two days later, on September 23.[10] Just as his initial appointment had been, his reappointment was another attempt to unify the party.[11]