Shinji Tarutoko (樽床 伸二, Tarutoko Shinji, born 6 August 1959) is a Japanese politician and former member of the House of Representatives.

Tarutoko was born in Shimane Prefecture on 6 August 1959.

[1] In June 2010, he declared his intention to run against Naoto Kan for the leadership of the Democratic Party of Japan; had he won, he would have become the next Prime Minister of Japan.

He became the top candidate on Kibō no Tō's Kinki proportional representation list in 2017 and was elected back to the House.

[5] Tarutoko resigned his seat on 28 January 2019 to contest the Osaka 12th district by-election, which was called after Kitagawa's death.