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Commissioner, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy
MURASE Yoshifumi

Mr. Murase Yoshifumi has served as Commissioner of the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy since July 2023.
As head of this key METI agency, he oversees all areas of resource and energy policies. His responsibilities cover a wide range of programs encompassing the planning of the Government of Japan’s energy policies and strategies. Key programs include measures to promote; the wider adoption of new energy sources to support zero-emission strategies, energy saving measures, and the expansion of renewable energy. As Commissioner, Mr. Murase also oversees METI programs designed to secure stable supplies of energy resources and fuels including oil, gas, and mineral resources. His remit also covers oversight electricity and gas supply including nuclear energy generation as well as building systems for energy infrastructure and markets.
Prior to his current role, Mr. Murase was posted to the Cabinet Office from 2020. As Director General, he oversaw economic and fiscal management including the formulation of the Basic Policy on Economic and Fiscal Management and Reform and new economic measures under the Kishida administration.
Earlier in his career at the agency, Mr. Murase served in several senior posts, namely Director, Policy Planning Division, Electricity and Gas Industry Department; Director, Policy Planning and Coordination Division; and Director-General of the Electricity and Gas Industry Department. During this period, he oversaw initiatives including the reconstruction of Fukushima following the nuclear power plant accident and drafting Japan’s Strategic Energy Plan. Mr. Murase also led three rounds of regulatory reforms of the electricity and gas businesses, including full liberalization to new market entrants. He was also charged with designing of a variety of new markets, including a non-fossil fuel energy value trading market and a capacity market. In addition, Mr. Murase oversaw reforms of The Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), Japan’s largest electricity provider, nuclear power projects including the program to restart some of Japan’s nuclear power plants as well as policies for securing final disposal sites for nuclear waste.
From 2012 to 2013, as an official for the Economic and Industrial Policy Bureau, Mr. Murase was involved in the deployment of the new economic policy (Abenomics) under the second Abe administration that was established after the shift from the previous administration.From 2011 to 2012, he served as Secretary to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry and supported the minister in overall policy matters in METI.
In addition, after joining METI in 1990, Mr. Murase served for the Minister's Secretariat, Economic and Industrial Policy Bureau, Trade Policy Bureau, Commerce and Information Policy Bureau, Small and Medium Enterprise Agency, and Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, and played key roles in a variety of policies, including the following: planning and designing of economic and industrial policies; resource diplomacy, e.g., oil and gas development and creation of energy core companies; trade policies, e.g., WTO and EPA; and fostering of new industries and creating of new markets in the fields of information and energy.
Mr. Murase began his career at METI in 1990 straight after graduating from the University of Tokyo’s Faculty of Economics. He earned a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University (Kennedy School MPA 98). He was born in Ehime Prefecture in July 1967.
Last updated:2023-08-29