Departures of note

Riki Sakaguchi was a Japanese physician and politician born in Mie Prefecture in 1934. He earned a doctorate in medicine from Mie University and entered politics, winning his first seat in the House of Representatives in the 1972 general election. He served eleven terms in the Diet, representing the Komeito party.

Following the 2001 reorganization of ministries, Sakaguchi became Japan's inaugural Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare under Prime Minister Mori, and continued in the role under Prime Minister Koizumi for over three years. He was also a deputy leader of Komeito, playing a key role in the party's policy direction.

Sakaguchi is remembered for his involvement in the resolution of the leprosy (Hansen's disease) forced‑isolation lawsuits. In 2001, after a court ruled the policy unconstitutional, he advocated for the government to abandon its appeal, leading to an official apology and compensation for victims. He retired from politics in 2012 and spent his later years in Takamatsu, where he died of natural causes on August 7, 2026, at the age of 92.