is a former justice of the

Supreme Court of Japan The , located in Hayabusachō, Chiyoda, Tokyo, is the highest court in Japan. It has ultimate judicial authority to interpret the Japanese constitution and decide questions of national law. It has the power of judicial review, which allows it ...

. She was the second woman in history to serve in that role.Second Woman in Japan Supreme Court
" ''

Associated Press The Associated Press (AP) is an American not-for-profit organization, not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association, and produces news reports that are dist ...

''. December 18, 2001.

Career

She attended International Christian University and became a bureaucrat in the Ministry of Health and Welfare after graduation. She was appointed as head of Japan's social insurance system in 1994, and as ambassador to the

Republic of Ireland Ireland ( ), also known as the Republic of Ireland (), is a country in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe consisting of 26 of the 32 Counties of Ireland, counties of the island of Ireland, with a population of about 5.4 million. ...

in 1998. In 2001, she was appointed to the Supreme Court. In September 2008, Yokoo resigned two years and seven months prior to the mandatory retirement age of 70. Ryuko Sakurai replaced Yokoo.Sakurai to be Supreme Court justice
." ''Japan Today''. September 7, 2008.

References

1941 births Living people Ambassadors of Japan to Ireland Japanese women diplomats Supreme Court of Japan justices Japanese women judges International Christian University alumni Japanese women ambassadors 20th-century women judges {{Japan-law-bio-stub