1929- . Japanese socialist politician, leader
of the Japan Socialist Party (JSP) from 1986
and responsible for much of its recent
revival. She is the country's first female
major party leader. Doi was a law lecturer
before being elected to the House of
Representatives in 1969. She assumed
leadership of the JSP at a low point in the
party's fortunes and proceeded to moderate
and modernize its image. With the help of
`housewife volunteers' she established
herself as a charismatic political leader,
and at a time when the ruling Liberal
Democrats were beset by scandals, the JSP
vote increased to make Doi the leader of an
effective opposition.