Date of birth: August 19, 1961 Place of birth: Setagaya Ward, Tokyo

Educational background

Apr. 1980	Entered the Department of French Studies, Faculty of Foreign Studies, Sophia University
May 1986	Graduated from the Department of Political Science, Columbia University, with a B.A.
May 1988	Graduated from the School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University, with a Master of International Affairs (M.I.A.) (majored in Economic and Political Development)
May 1998	Graduated from the Department of Economics, New York University (NYU), with a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) (majored in Finance and Monetary Economics)

Career

1998	Economist of Economic and Market Analysis, Nikko Citi group
2002	Senior Economist of Economic Research, J.P. Morgan Securities
2004	Economic Research Director (Chief Economist), Credit Suisse Securities
	Lecturer, Okuma School of Public Management, Waseda University
2005	Elected for the first time to the House of Representatives (Tokai block)
	Assistant to the Secretary-General, Liberal Democratic Party of Japan (LDP)
2006	Deputy Secretary-General, LDP
Jul. 2010	Elected to the House of Councillors on the list of proportional representation candidates (national constituency)
Sep. 2010	Deputy Chairman, LDP Policy Board in the House of Councillors
	Vice Minister, Economic, Fiscal and Finance Policy, the LDP Shadow Cabinet
	Director of the Committee on Financial Affairs in the House of Councillors; Member of the Committee on Budget in the House of Councillors; Member of the Special Committee on Political Ethics and Election System in the House of Councillors
Oct. 2011	Chief Director of the Committee on Financial Affairs in the House of Councillors; Deputy-Chairman, LDP Diet Affairs Committee in the House of Councillors
Oct. 2012	Director, Public Speeches Division, LDP
Dec. 2012	Parliamentary Vice Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, METI