Makoto Sakurai

Makoto Sakurai is the pen name of a political activist, blogger, and writer from Kitakyushu in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. His real name is Takata Makoto . A former civil servant in a ward office, he is the founder and former leader of the far-right nationalist group Zaitokukai, known for its anti-foreign messages and public demonstrations which some consider unruly. Following his unsuccessful campaign in the 2016 Tokyo gubernatorial election, he founded the Japan First Party in August 2016 and stepped down as the party's leader in 2025 due to heart failure.