Minister of the Environment

Education

1968

Graduated from the University of Tokyo (Bachelor of Law)

Career

1968

Joined Nippon Steel Corporation (Yawata Iron & Steel Co., Ltd.)

1970

Joined Ministry of International Trade and Industry

1990

Elected to the House of Representative (HOR) for the first time (39^th Election)

1996

Elected to the HOR (41^st Election)

1997

Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Health and Welfare

2000

Elected to the HOR (42^nd Election)

Deputy Chairperson, General Council, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)

2003

State Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology

Elected to the HOR (43^rd Election)

2005

Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, HOR

Elected to the HOR (44^th Election)

2006

Senior Director, Committee on Rules and Administration, HOR

2007

Chairman, Committee on Financial Affairs, HOR

Chairperson, Federation of Fukuoka Prefecture Liberal Democratic Party Branches

2008

Chief Deputy Secretary-General, LDP

2012

Elected to the HOR (46^th Election)

2013

Senior Director, Committee on Foreign Affairs, HOR

Chairperson, Research Commission on Market Competitiveness Policy, LDP

Chairperson, Committee on Analysis of International Information, LDP

2014

Elected to the HOR (47^th Election)

Executive Director, Committee on Financial Affairs, HOR

Chairperson, Personal Committee, LDP

Chairperson, Research Commission on Market Competitiveness Policy, LDP

Chairperson, Headquarters for Regional Diplomatic and Economic Partnership, LDP

Chairperson, Committee on Analysis of International Information, LDP

Senior Director, Special Committee on North Korea Abductions and Other Issues, HOR

2016

Chairman, Special Committee on Consumer Affairs, HOR

2017

Elected to the HOR (48^th Election)

Hobby

Sixth dan of Judo, Third dan of Go, Fifth dan of Shogi
Blog, Visiting museums, Japanese history, Golf, Karaoke, Debate

Family

Wife, three daughters