BA in International Relations, University of Tokyo; MPhil, Economics, Yale University. Economist, World Bank; Minister, Embassy of Japan, US; 1992, Director-General, Global Environmental Affairs, Ministry of International Trade and Industry; 1993, Managing Director, Suntory Ltd.; 2000, Minister of the Environment; 2002, Minister for Foreign Affairs; 2004, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister of Japan, responsible for foreign affairs; since 2005, Member of the House of Councillors. Also, Deputy Chairperson, Policy Research Council, Liberal Democratic Party of Japan
Served on many Japanese Government advisory boards including the Regulatory Reform Committee, the Central Council for Education and the University Council.
Presently, Jury of the Zayed International Prize for the Environment, UNEP, Chairperson of the Asia-Pacific Forum for Environment and Development (APFED)2, Member of the Foundation Board of the Forum of Young Global Leaders, World Economic Forum, and Member of the President's Council on International Activities, Yale University.