Maya Murata (Vive l'Emperor)

Yuri was born in 1980. She had a good childhood passed through school with hih grades. In 1996 she joined the progressive youth, the youth wing of the ruling progressive party. She attended the university of Hiroshima (1998 - 2000), and studied law and journalism.

After leaving university she began a short career in modelling before rejoining the progressive youth. In 2002 she became leader of the local branch and was put forward as a candidate for the assembly. She stood in the 2003 election and was elected with a comfortable majority.

She soon became something of a celebrity, at 22 when she was elected, this made her the youngest assembliwoman ever. Yuri was given a position on the youth committee. She delivered her first speech on April 8, 2004 as part of the debate over whether to extend the lease of okinawa to the US for another 50 years (she was an opponent).

After rising resentment with the prime minister and party chairman, she left the progressives in 2006. She and 22 other dissatisfied members formed the young japan party, a movement to take control of government from the stuffy old parties and bring a new, youthful, lease of life to the country.

In January 2007 the pm announced a general election