Kayoko Hosokawa

Kayo Hosokawa (née Ueda Kayo, formerly Ueda Kayo) was born on September 14, 1942, in Manchukuo (now Northeast China). She is a Japanese national and hails from Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture. In terms of family relations, she has a great-uncle named Motohisa Abe.

[Life and Education]

Born in Manchukuo in 1942, she returned to mainland Japan in 1943 and relocated to Kugenuma, Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture. After spending her childhood, she attended and graduated from Shonan Shirayuri Gakuen Elementary School, then went on to complete middle and high school at the same institution. In 1966, she graduated from Sophia University’s Faculty of Letters, Department of English Literature. After graduation, she worked for a private company, including postings to various European countries as a dispatched employee.

[Marriage and Family]

In 1971, she met Morihiro Hosokawa in Italy and married him. She supported her husband's political activities and has three children—one son and two daughters.

[Activities and Positions]

She is engaged in various activities supporting women, children, and the elderly. She is an Honorary Chairperson and former Director of the Special Olympics Nippon Foundation, involved in social service activities. In February 2005, she served as Chairperson of the Winter Special Olympics held in Nagano Prefecture. In December of the same year, she established the Japan Floor Hockey Federation.

Additionally, she is the Chairperson of the recognized NPO "Save the Children Japan" (as of June 2018). She also serves as the Honorary Principal of the “Politics School for Women” and has maintained relationships as part of the "Swan Sisters" with Yukio Hatoyama (93rd Prime Minister of Japan and his wife, Yukio Hatoyama), Miyako Shimomura, and Reiko Yukawa.

[Publications]

In 2009, she published the following works:

- "Let Flowers Be Flowers, Let People Be People: My Volunteering Life" (Kadokawa Shoten, ISBN 978-4-04-885018-6)

- "Tomoko-chan Wins the Silver Medal" (Minerva Shobo, ISBN 978-4-623-05369-8)

- "Do You Know? Let's Think with the Developmental Disorders Workbook" (Minerva Shobo, ISBN 978-4-623-05368-1)

She has also authored an article titled "Leadership in International Society from a Volunteer’s Perspective," included in the 2004 edition of "Cultivation in the Era of Internationalization," edited by the Faculty of Education, Sophia University.

[Current Roles and Activities]

- Honorary Chairperson of Special Olympics Nippon Foundation (as of March 2021)

- Chairperson of the recognized NPO "Save the Children Japan" (as of June 2018)

- Honorary Chairperson of the Japan Floor Hockey Federation

- Honorary Principal of the “Politics School for Women”

- She actively shares her activities and thoughts through personal blogs and websites.