Biography

1968
Graduated from Faculty of Business and Commerce, Keio University.
Asahi Chemical Industry (-1983)

1983
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister and the secretary to the president of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)

1986
Elected as a member of the House of Councillors for the first time (successively elected 5 times to date)

1990
Parliamentary Vice-Minister, Ministry of International Trade and Industry
1993
Chairman, Committee on Commerce and Industry, House of Councillors

1997
Chairman, Committee on Rules and Administration, House of Councillors

1998
Chairman, the LDP’ Policy Deliberation Board for the House of Councillors
Chairman, Special Committee on Managing Debts of Japan National Railway Settlement Corporation and Reform of National Forestry Services,House of Councillors

1999
Minister of Education, Science, Sports and Culture, and Director-General of the Science and Technology Agency (Obuchi administration)

2000
Minister of Education, Science, Sports and Culture, and Director-General of the Science and Technology Agency (Mori administration) Special Adviser to the prime minister (educational issues)

2001
Chairman, Deliberative Council on Political Ethics, House of Councillors

2002
President of the Judge Impeachment Court

2004
Chairman, Committee on Budget, House of Coucillors

2006
Chairman, Special Committee on Fundamental Law of Education, House of Councillors

2007
Chairman, Committee on Discipline, House of Councillors
Chairman, the LDP’ Research Commission on Culture and Tradition

2008
Minister For Foreign Affairs (Aso administration)

2009
Chairman, the LDP’ Party Ethics Committee