Omi Koji Sensei (1932-2022)

Former Member of the House of Representatives of Japan

Born on December 14, 1932 in Gunma Prefecture, Japan, Omi Koji Sensei was a member of the House of Representatives of Japan. He was, in addition, the former Finance Minister of Japan. He also served as Japanese Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy and Minister of State for Okinawa and Northern Territories Affairs. Omi Sensei passed away on April 14, 2022.

Omi Sensei was also a direct student of the late Nakamura Tempu Sensei, founder of the Shin-shin-toitsu-do system of Japanese yoga and meditation. Omi Sensei was the Chief Director of the Tempu Society, which oversees the teaching of Shin-shin-toitsu-do in Japan.

His support of the SMAA served to illustrate the close ties the group has with Japan, and the degree to which the SMAA is respected in this island nation, the birthplace of budo. Omi Sensei's desire to join the SMAA validates the unique and important work our association is doing to promote and preserve genuinely traditional Japanese martial arts and ways. The presence of people like Omi Koji Sensei, former SMAA Senior Advisor, among our leaders gives added weight to the ranks that our members can receive from the various SMAA divisions. They also serve to further emphasize the international nature of the SMAA and our group's close connection to Japan.

The following is a short list of Omi Sensei's many accomplishments:

1956 Graduated from the Faculty of Commercial Science, Hitotsubashi University
1956 Joined the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI)
1970 Served as Consul at the Japanese Consulate General in New York until 1974
1981 Served as Director-General, Guidance Department, Small & Medium Enterprise Agency until 1983
1983 Elected to the House of Representatives (up to the present)
1990 Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Finance
1995 Chairman Standing Committee on Finance, House of Representatives
1995 Drafted and enacted Science and Technology Fundamental Law
1997 Minister of State for Economic Planning until 1998
Acting Secretary-General, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) until 2001
Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy
Minister of State for Okinawa and Northern Territories Affairs
Minister of Finance

Selected Publications
1991 Rebuilding Japan: A Country We Can Be Proud Of
1996 Towards a Science and Technology-Oriented Nation