Doi, Takako (1929- )

Japanese socialist politician. She was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives in 1993, and led the Social Democratic Party of Japan (SDJP), formerly the Japan Socialist Party (JSP), 1986-1991. The country's first female major party leader, she was largely responsible for the SDJP's revival in the late 1980s. Her resignation followed the party's crushing defeat in local elections in April 1991. In 1996 she was persuaded to lead the Social Democratic Party (SDP) again in the general election campaign, but could not prevent its support falling further.