Born:
 December 11, 1949, Ibaraki Prefecture

Education:
 Meiji Gakuin University, Faculty of Sociology and Social
 Work (left in mid-course)

Career:
 1989 Vice-Chairman, National Federation of Agricultural,
    Forestry and Fishery Cooperative Workers' Unions
 1992 Chief Secretary and Vice-Chairman, Ibaraki
    Agricultural Cooperative Workers' Union
 1994 Managing Director, Ibaraki Prefecture Labour Center
 1998 first elected to the House of Councillors

(Major posts in the House of Councillors)
 2004 Chairman, Committee on Environment
 2007 Chairman, Committee on Oversight of Administration
 2007 Chairman, Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and
    Fisheries
 2013 Chairman, Special Committee on Reconstruction after
    the Great East Japan Earthquake
 2016 Vice-President

(Major posts in the Government)
 2009 State Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and
    Fisheries
 2012 Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

(Major posts in a political parties)
 2006 Chair, Diet Affairs Committee, Democratic Party
    of Japan (DPJ) Caucus in the House of Councillors
 2013 Chair, DPJ Caucus in the House of Councillors
 2016 Chair, The Democratic Party Caucus in the House
    of Councillors

(as of January 16,2017)