October 17, 2006
Minister Wakabayashi
On September 26, 2006, House of Councillors member WAKABAYASHI Masatoshi assumed the office of Minister of the Environment (Minister in Charge of Global Environmental Problems). House of Representatives member TSUCHIYA Shinako assumed the office of Senior Vice-Minister of the Environment, and House of Representatives member KITAGAWA Tomokatsu assumed the office of Parliamentary Secretary of the Environment in the same Cabinet formation.
The Minister of the Environment's Inaugural Address
Environmental problems have become an issue that all humankind now face. It is therefore crucial that we become proactively involved in the issue based on the idea that we should simultaneously pursue both environmental conservation and economic growth,
Specifically, in addition to the steady implementation of the Kyoto Protocol Target Achievement Plan, I am committed to utilize biomass comprehensively fully making use of its capacity. In addition, in order to realize a sound material-cycle society, I will promote the 3Rs including the
elimination of large scale illegal dumping. Also, I will cooperate with international society to realize coexistence with nature such as conservation of biodiversity.
I will devote myself with my utmost effort to meet the growing expectations and strong interest of citizens in the environmental administration and to enable Japan to take a lead in the international environmental policies.
WAKABAYASHI Masatoshi
Minister of the Environment
Minister in Charge of Global Environmental Problems
- Date of Birth
- July 4, 1934
- Education
- Tokyo University, Faculty of Law
- Political Party
- Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
- Career
Apr. 1957 Jointed Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MoAF) Jan. 1978 Director, Agricultural Policy Planning Division, Agricultural Structure
Improvement Bureau, MoAFJan. 1981 Director, General Affairs Division, Agricultural Structure
Improvement Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)July 1981 Director, General Affairs Division, Director-General's Secretariat,
National Land AgencyJan. 1983 Resigned from MAFF Dec. 1983 Elected to the House of Representatives (HR) July 1986 Elected to the HR June 1989 Parliamentary Vice-Minister, Management and Coordination Agency
(-Feb. 1990)July 1993 Elected to the HR July 1994 Director, Committee on Transport, LDP July 1998 Elected to the House of Councillors (HC) Aug. 1999 Chairperson, Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (HC) Dec. 1999 Parliamentary Vice-Minister, Ministry of Finance (-Jan. 2001) Jan. 2001 Senior Vice-Minister of Finance (-Sept. 2001) Sept. 2001 Director, Committee on Financial Affairs, HC Oct. 2002 Director, Research Commission on the Constitution, HC
Director, Special Committee on Financial Issues and Revitalization of the Economy, HCMay 2003 Director, Special Committee on Protection of Personal Information, HC Sept. 2003 Chairperson, Special Committee on Prevention of International Terrorism and Japan's Cooperation and Support, HC July 2004 Elected to the HC
Chairperson, Committee on Discipline, HCOct. 2004 Director, Committee on Budget, HC
Chairperson, Special Committee on Mountain Villages, LDPNov. 2005 Chairperson, LDP Policy Board in the House of Councillors
Acting Chairperson, Research Commission on the Constitution, LDP
Acting Chairperson, Research Commission on the Election System, LDPSept. 2006 Minister of the Environment, Minister in Charge of Global Environmental Problems
