HE Mr Hirofumi Nakasone

Japan

Member, the House of Councillors

Mr Nakasone, born in 1945, is the son of former Japanese prime minister Yasuhiro Nakasone. Nakasone himself followed a career in politics, and served as the Minister of Education, Science, Sports and Culture and Minister of State for Science and Technology from 1999 to 2001. He was foreign minister of Japan from August 2008 until September 2009, and is currently a member of the House of Councillors.

Nakasone graduated from the Faculty of Business and Commerce at Keio University, Japan, in 1968. His professional career began in 1986 when he was elected as a member of the House of Councillors (Liberal Democratic Party). In 1990, he served as the parliamentary vice-minister at the Ministry of International Trade and Industry. In 1993, he became chairman of the Standing Committee on Commerce and Industry, and in 1995, he served as committee chairman on women’s issues, social education and religion.