Date of birth: May 11, 1948

Party: Democratic Party of Japan

Electoral district: Upper House; Kanagawa (fourth term)

A Yokohama native, Chiba became a lawyer after graduating from Chuo University in Tokyo and worked to protect the rights of women and seniors.

She was first elected to the Upper House in 1986 with the backing of the Social Democratic Party of Japan, and held executive posts in the party and later in its successor, the Social Democratic Party. Chiba left the SDP and joined the old DPJ in 1997.

After being appointed justice minister in 2009, she made her name with the enactment of legislation to abolish the statute of limitations for murder and robbery-murder.

Her attempt to present the current Diet session with a bill permitting married couples to have different surnames was met with strong opposition in the Cabinet.

Chiba has been active in human rights, including coexistence with foreign residents.