Born:
December 11, 1949, Ibaraki Prefecture
Education:
Meiji Gakuin University, Faculty of Sociology and Social
Work (left in mid-course)
Career:
1998 first elected to the House of Councillors (4 terms)
(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 July 30,2020)