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J A P A N

NEW GOVERNMENT SINCE 26 APRIL 2001
The government is formed by LDP, Hoshu To and private sector

MINISTERS

Junichiro Koizumi - Prime Minister [NEW]

Born : January 8, 1942

Party : LDP (Jiyu Minshu To / Liberal Democratic Party) {no factional affiliation}

Yasuo Fukuda - Chief Cabinet Secretary

Born : 1937

Education/Profession : After graduating from university, he spent 17 years with an oil company. Observers have said that his experience as a salaried worker has helped him view politics objectively.

Party : LDP(Jiyu Minshu To / Liberal Democratic Party) {Mori faction}

Political career : After long keeping a low profile in the world of politics, Fukuda has earned plaudits for his role as chief cabinet secretary in the Mori administration.

Tsutomu Takebe - Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries [NEW]

Born : 1942

Education/Profession : Graduating from university.

Party : LDP(Jiyu Minshu To / Liberal Democratic Party) {Yamasaki faction}

Political career : Served as secretary to former Prime Minister Takeo Miki. A former Hokkaido prefectural assembly member, Takebe was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1986. He also served as director of the lower house's Rules and Administration Committee and as deputy chairman of the LDP Diet Affairs Committee.

Takeo Hiranuma - Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry

Born : 1940

Education/Profession : His experience of once having worked as a company employee mark him as a common man.

Party : LDP (Jiyu Minshu To / Liberal Democratic Party) {Eto-Kamei faction}

Atsuko Toyama - Minister of Education, Culture, Sport, Science and Technology [NEW]

Born : 1939

Education/Profession : She was the ambassador to Turkey from 1996 to 1999. Since April last year, she served as director of the National Museum of Western Art.

Party : [From the private sector]

Political career : The first female chief of the Cultural Affairs Agency in 1994. She held several important posts in the ministry, including that of bureau chief of higher education. She has an in-depth knowledge in the fields of education, culture and science.

Yoriko Kawaguchi - Minister of Environment

Born : 1941

Education/Profession : Became a managing director at Suntory Ltd.

Party : [From the private sector]

Political career : Appointed from the private sector as director general of the former Environment Agency (now a ministry) in April last year, was considered a high-profile female appointment.

Masajuro Shiokawa - Minister of Finance [NEW]

Born : 1922

Party : LDP (Jiyu Minshu To / Liberal Democratic Party) {Mori faction}

Political career : His wealth of experience includes a posting as chief cabinet secretary under the administration of Sosuke Uno in 1989. He also has served as chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party's tax system research council.

Makiko Tanaka - Minister of Foreign Affairs [NEW]

Born : 1944

Party : LDP (Jiyu Minshu To / Liberal Democratic Party) {no factional affiliation}

Political career : Is the second time she has been appointed to a cabinet post. Her previous appointment was in 1994, when she was named director general of the former Science and Technology Agency in the Murayama Cabinet.

Note : Only daughter of the late Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka

Chikara Sakaguchi - Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare

Born : 1934

Education/Profession : Doctorate in medicine and specialized in preventive medical science and public sanitary science. His work has taken him to remote locations.

Party : (New Komeito)

Mayumi Moriyama - Minister of Justice [NEW]

Born : 1928

Education/Profession : Graduate of Tokyo University and a former bureaucrat at the Labor Ministry, Moriyama is known as a lawmaker who is well-versed in the practicalities of issues. Moriyama has participated in a number of international conferences, and has an excellent command of English.

Party : LDP (Jiyu Minshu To / Liberal Democratic Party) {former Komoto faction}

Political career : Member of either the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors for more than 20 years, has held several important cabinet posts. She previously served as education minister, chief cabinet secretary and director general of the Environment Agency. In 1989, Moriyama became the first cabinet spokeswoman under the administration of Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu.

Chikage Ogi - Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport

Born : 1934

Education/Profession : Was a member of Takarazuka Revue, a famous all-female musical troupe and an actress, but has since made her mark as a politician.

Party : (Hoshu To / Conservative Party)

Political career : As head of the ministry in the Mori Cabinet

Toranosuke Katayama - Minister of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications

Born : 1936

Party : LDP (Jiyu Minshu To / Liberal Democratic Party) {Hashimoto faction}

Political career : Formerly a Home Affairs Ministry official, is known for his articulate answers during Diet deliberations to questions posed not only on local administration, his specialty area, but also on postal and telecommunications affairs. Also is considered a strong candidate for secretary general of the LDP members' group at the House of Councillors.

STATE MINISTERS

Koji Omi - State Minister, Administrative Reform, Okinawa and Northern Territories [NEW]

Born : 1933

Education/Profession : After serving such important posts as head of the LDP General Affairs Bureau and acting secretary general of the party, Omi strengthened his connections with other party factions, and made significant contributions to Koizumi's LDP presidential election campaign.

Party : LDP (Jiyu Minshu To / Liberal Democratic Party) {Mori faction}

Political career : Served as the director general of the Economic Planning Agency in the second Hashimoto Cabinet.

Heizo Takenaka - State Minister, Charge of Economic, Fiscal and IT Policy [NEW]

Born : 1951

Education/Profession : After graduating from Hitotsubashi University, he joined the then Japan Development Bank (now the Development Bank of Japan). After working as a senior researcher for the Finance Ministry, Takenaka taught at Osaka University and Harvard University before joining the Keio faculty.

Party : [From the private sector]

Political career : Member of the government's Economic Strategy Council and its Information Technology Strategy Headquarters. He also helped to hammer out Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori's economic policies.

Hakuo Yanagisawa - State Minister in Charge of Financial Policy

Born : 1936

Education/Profession : As an advocate of the effective use of market forces, he was reappointed to the post charged with helping financial institutions write off nonperforming loans and coming up with measures in response to a series of life insurance company failures.

Party : LDP (Jiyu Minshu To / Liberal Democratic Party) {Horiuchi faction}

Political career : He became a founding member of the faction's splinter group headed by former International Trade and Industry Minister Mitsuo Horiuchi, later established as the Horiuchi faction.

Nobuteru Ishihara - State Minister for Administrative Reform

Born : 1957

Education/Profession : A former reporter for a private television station, he specializes in fiscal and financial policies, and is one of the economy-savvy young Diet members who have made their mark during Japan's financial woes.

Party : LDP (Jiyu Minshu To / Liberal Democratic Party) {no factional affiliation}

Political career : Former Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Koichi Kato's rebellion against Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori by staying away from a House of Representative plenary session last November where Kato threatened to back the opposition's no-confidence motion against the Mori Cabinet.

Jin Murai - State Minister for Natural Disaster Prevention [NEW]

Born : 1937

Education/Profession : An expert on fiscal and financial affairs. Murai likes reading and loves cooking so much that he even releases his recipes on his own Web site.

Party : LDP (Jiyu Minshu To / Liberal Democratic Party) {Hashimoto faction}

Political career : Served as the first senior vice minister of the Cabinet Office in charge of financial affairs. Joined former Prime Minister Tsutomu Hata, both from the same hometown, when the Liberal Democratic Party split in 1993, but when Hata sought to establish a new party while they were part of the defunct Shinshinto (New Frontier Party), Murai parted with Hata and returned to the LDP fold in 1997.

Also : National Public Safety Commission Chairman

Gen Nakatani - Defense Agency Director General [NEW]

Born : 1957

Education/Profession : Graduated from the National Defense Academy's science and technology department and joined the Ground Self-Defense Force in 1980.

Party : LDP (Jiyu Minshu To / Liberal Democratic Party) {Kato faction}

Political career : First elected to the House of Representatives in 1990 from the Kochi constituency No. 2.

ALSO SEE

Chiefs of State and Heads of Government Foreign Affairs World Parliaments Federated States and Provinces Political Weekly Factbook International Organizations

	Junichiro Koizumi - Prime Minister [NEW] Born : January 8, 1942 Party : LDP (Jiyu Minshu To / Liberal Democratic Party) {no factional affiliation}
	Yasuo Fukuda - Chief Cabinet Secretary Born : 1937 Education/Profession : After graduating from university, he spent 17 years with an oil company. Observers have said that his experience as a salaried worker has helped him view politics objectively. Party : LDP(Jiyu Minshu To / Liberal Democratic Party) {Mori faction} Political career : After long keeping a low profile in the world of politics, Fukuda has earned plaudits for his role as chief cabinet secretary in the Mori administration.
	Tsutomu Takebe - Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries [NEW] Born : 1942 Education/Profession : Graduating from university. Party : LDP(Jiyu Minshu To / Liberal Democratic Party) {Yamasaki faction} Political career : Served as secretary to former Prime Minister Takeo Miki. A former Hokkaido prefectural assembly member, Takebe was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1986. He also served as director of the lower house's Rules and Administration Committee and as deputy chairman of the LDP Diet Affairs Committee.
	Takeo Hiranuma - Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry Born : 1940 Education/Profession : His experience of once having worked as a company employee mark him as a common man. Party : LDP (Jiyu Minshu To / Liberal Democratic Party) {Eto-Kamei faction}
	Atsuko Toyama - Minister of Education, Culture, Sport, Science and Technology [NEW] Born : 1939 Education/Profession : She was the ambassador to Turkey from 1996 to 1999. Since April last year, she served as director of the National Museum of Western Art. Party : [From the private sector] Political career : The first female chief of the Cultural Affairs Agency in 1994. She held several important posts in the ministry, including that of bureau chief of higher education. She has an in-depth knowledge in the fields of education, culture and science.
	Yoriko Kawaguchi - Minister of Environment Born : 1941 Education/Profession : Became a managing director at Suntory Ltd. Party : [From the private sector] Political career : Appointed from the private sector as director general of the former Environment Agency (now a ministry) in April last year, was considered a high-profile female appointment.
	Masajuro Shiokawa - Minister of Finance [NEW] Born : 1922 Party : LDP (Jiyu Minshu To / Liberal Democratic Party) {Mori faction} Political career : His wealth of experience includes a posting as chief cabinet secretary under the administration of Sosuke Uno in 1989. He also has served as chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party's tax system research council.
	Makiko Tanaka - Minister of Foreign Affairs [NEW] Born : 1944 Party : LDP (Jiyu Minshu To / Liberal Democratic Party) {no factional affiliation} Political career : Is the second time she has been appointed to a cabinet post. Her previous appointment was in 1994, when she was named director general of the former Science and Technology Agency in the Murayama Cabinet. Note : Only daughter of the late Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka
	Chikara Sakaguchi - Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Born : 1934 Education/Profession : Doctorate in medicine and specialized in preventive medical science and public sanitary science. His work has taken him to remote locations. Party : (New Komeito)
	Mayumi Moriyama - Minister of Justice [NEW] Born : 1928 Education/Profession : Graduate of Tokyo University and a former bureaucrat at the Labor Ministry, Moriyama is known as a lawmaker who is well-versed in the practicalities of issues. Moriyama has participated in a number of international conferences, and has an excellent command of English. Party : LDP (Jiyu Minshu To / Liberal Democratic Party) {former Komoto faction} Political career : Member of either the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors for more than 20 years, has held several important cabinet posts. She previously served as education minister, chief cabinet secretary and director general of the Environment Agency. In 1989, Moriyama became the first cabinet spokeswoman under the administration of Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu.
	Chikage Ogi - Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Born : 1934 Education/Profession : Was a member of Takarazuka Revue, a famous all-female musical troupe and an actress, but has since made her mark as a politician. Party : (Hoshu To / Conservative Party) Political career : As head of the ministry in the Mori Cabinet
	Toranosuke Katayama - Minister of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications Born : 1936 Party : LDP (Jiyu Minshu To / Liberal Democratic Party) {Hashimoto faction} Political career : Formerly a Home Affairs Ministry official, is known for his articulate answers during Diet deliberations to questions posed not only on local administration, his specialty area, but also on postal and telecommunications affairs. Also is considered a strong candidate for secretary general of the LDP members' group at the House of Councillors.

	Koji Omi - State Minister, Administrative Reform, Okinawa and Northern Territories [NEW] Born : 1933 Education/Profession : After serving such important posts as head of the LDP General Affairs Bureau and acting secretary general of the party, Omi strengthened his connections with other party factions, and made significant contributions to Koizumi's LDP presidential election campaign. Party : LDP (Jiyu Minshu To / Liberal Democratic Party) {Mori faction} Political career : Served as the director general of the Economic Planning Agency in the second Hashimoto Cabinet.
	Heizo Takenaka - State Minister, Charge of Economic, Fiscal and IT Policy [NEW] Born : 1951 Education/Profession : After graduating from Hitotsubashi University, he joined the then Japan Development Bank (now the Development Bank of Japan). After working as a senior researcher for the Finance Ministry, Takenaka taught at Osaka University and Harvard University before joining the Keio faculty. Party : [From the private sector] Political career : Member of the government's Economic Strategy Council and its Information Technology Strategy Headquarters. He also helped to hammer out Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori's economic policies.
	Hakuo Yanagisawa - State Minister in Charge of Financial Policy Born : 1936 Education/Profession : As an advocate of the effective use of market forces, he was reappointed to the post charged with helping financial institutions write off nonperforming loans and coming up with measures in response to a series of life insurance company failures. Party : LDP (Jiyu Minshu To / Liberal Democratic Party) {Horiuchi faction} Political career : He became a founding member of the faction's splinter group headed by former International Trade and Industry Minister Mitsuo Horiuchi, later established as the Horiuchi faction.
	Nobuteru Ishihara - State Minister for Administrative Reform Born : 1957 Education/Profession : A former reporter for a private television station, he specializes in fiscal and financial policies, and is one of the economy-savvy young Diet members who have made their mark during Japan's financial woes. Party : LDP (Jiyu Minshu To / Liberal Democratic Party) {no factional affiliation} Political career : Former Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Koichi Kato's rebellion against Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori by staying away from a House of Representative plenary session last November where Kato threatened to back the opposition's no-confidence motion against the Mori Cabinet.
	Jin Murai - State Minister for Natural Disaster Prevention [NEW] Born : 1937 Education/Profession : An expert on fiscal and financial affairs. Murai likes reading and loves cooking so much that he even releases his recipes on his own Web site. Party : LDP (Jiyu Minshu To / Liberal Democratic Party) {Hashimoto faction} Political career : Served as the first senior vice minister of the Cabinet Office in charge of financial affairs. Joined former Prime Minister Tsutomu Hata, both from the same hometown, when the Liberal Democratic Party split in 1993, but when Hata sought to establish a new party while they were part of the defunct Shinshinto (New Frontier Party), Murai parted with Hata and returned to the LDP fold in 1997. Also : National Public Safety Commission Chairman
	Gen Nakatani - Defense Agency Director General [NEW] Born : 1957 Education/Profession : Graduated from the National Defense Academy's science and technology department and joined the Ground Self-Defense Force in 1980. Party : LDP (Jiyu Minshu To / Liberal Democratic Party) {Kato faction} Political career : First elected to the House of Representatives in 1990 from the Kochi constituency No. 2.