Tetsuo Saito Explained

Tetsuo Saito
Native Name Lang:ja
Office:Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
Primeminister:Fumio Kishida
Term Start:4 October 2021
Predecessor:Kazuyoshi Akaba
Office1:Minister of the Environment
Primeminister1:Yasuo Fukuda
Tarō Asō
Term Start1:2 August 2008
Term End1:16 September 2009
Predecessor1:Ichirō Kamoshita
Successor1:Sakihito Ozawa
Office2:Member of the House of Representatives
Constituency2:Hiroshima 3rd
(past: former Hiroshima 1st, Chūgoku PR block)
Term Start2:19 July 1993
Birth Date:5 February 1952
Birth Place:Ōnan, Shimane, Japan
Party:Komeito

is a Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). Saito is currently serving his fifth term in the Lower House by Chugoku proportional election[1] and is the current Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

Career

A native of Ōchi District, Shimane, he attended Tokyo Institute of Technology as an undergraduate studying applied physics, graduating in 1976, and received a Ph.D. in engineering from the same school. His first employment was with the major construction firm Shimizu Corporation. Saito was a visiting researcher at Princeton University for three years beginning in 1986. He was elected to the Diet for the first time in 1993.[1]

Saito is known for his ties with NASA as well as expert knowledge of lunar bases and clean energy technology. Due to his knowledge in these areas, he was appointed parliamentary secretary of science and technology in 1999 in the Keizo Obuchi administration.[1]

Saito was appointed Minister of the Environment by Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on August 1, 2008.[2] In the Cabinet of Prime Minister Taro Aso, appointed on September 24, 2008, Saito was retained in his post.[3]

His main hobby is swimming and Railway.[1] [4]

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Japan Times, "Fukuda's new lineup", August 3, 2008.
  2. http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20080802TDY01303.htm "Fukuda overhauls Cabinet / LDP executive shakeup also elevates Aso to party No. 2"
  3. http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20080925TDY01303.htm "Aso elected premier / Announces Cabinet lineup himself; poll likely on Nov. 2"
  4. http://www.saitotetsuo.com/profile/ Profile