Makoto Tanabe (
Japanese: 田邊 誠) (February 25, 1922 – July 2, 2015) was the chairman of the former
Japan Socialist Party, now known as the
Social Democratic Party of Japan. He was elected to the position in 1991.[1] Tanabe was from the right wing of the party and was a reformer.[2] He served in the Japanese
House of Representatives 11 times.[3] Tanabe was a supporter of giving Japanese aide to deal with the lack of food in
North Korea.[4] He was also supportive of apologizing for Japan's behaviour during
World War II and of giving reparations to those in Asian countries.[5] He died in 2015.[3]