Ota Kaoru

Born Jan. 1, 1912, in Okayama Prefecture. Japanese Labor leader.

Ota entered the chemical firm Ube Chissho in 1938, after graduating from the University of Osaka. He began his union activities in 1946 and was a leader of the union at Ube Chissho. From 1949 to 1953 he was vice-chairman, and from 1953 to 1957, chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions of Workers in the Synthetic Chemicals Industry (Goka Roren). In 1953–54 and from 1955 to 1958, he was vice-chairman, and from 1958 to 1966, chairman of the General Council of Japanese Trade Unions (Sohyo). In 1966 he became an adviser to Sohyo. In 1965, Ota was awarded an International Lenin Prize for Strengthening Peace Between Nations.