Mariko Suga

Mariko Suga (Japanese: 菅 真理子, Suga Mariko) was born on November 28, 1953, in Shimizu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. Her family was involved in a food wholesale business operated in the region. She completed her secondary education at Shimizu Higashi High School, where she was a member of the archery club. Following high school, she pursued higher education at Shizuoka Women's University, majoring in home economics.

Subsequently, Suga worked as a live-in housekeeper in the residence of politician Hikosaburo Okonogi. During this period, her younger sister was employed as a secretary to Okonogi. It was during this employment that she met Yoshihide Suga, who was also working as a secretary for Hikosaburo Okonogi and was her sister’s colleague. Suga and Yoshihide Suga married afterward. They have three sons together.

After her marriage, Mariko Suga became a housewife. Her husband, Yoshihide Suga, entered politics, serving as a Yokohama city councilor starting in 1987, and later as a member of Japan’s House of Representatives beginning in 1996. Yoshihide Suga rose to prominence as the Chief Cabinet Secretary under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a position he held from 2012 until 2020. In September 2020, Yoshihide Suga was appointed Prime Minister of Japan, succeeding Shinzo Abe, and served in this role until October 2021.