Tsutomu Sato (politician)

Tsutomu Sato (佐藤 勉, Satō Tsutomu; born 20 June 1952) is a Japanese politician who served as Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications in 2009 and Chairman of the National Public Safety Commission from 2008 to 2009 under Prime Minister Taro Aso.

Tsutomu Sato
佐藤 勉
Official portrait, 2008
Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications
In office
12 June 2009 – 16 September 2009
Prime MinisterTarō Asō
Preceded byKunio Hatoyama
Succeeded byKazuhiro Haraguchi
Chairman of the National Public Safety Commission
In office
24 September 2008 – 2 July 2009
Prime MinisterTarō Asō
Preceded byMotoo Hayashi
Succeeded byMotoo Hayashi
Member of the House of Representatives
Assumed office
20 October 1996
Preceded byConstituency established
ConstituencyTochigi 4th (1996–2009; 2012–2024)
Northern Kanto PR (2009–2012; 2024–present)
Member of the Tochigi Prefectural Assembly
In office
1987–1996
ConstituencyNorthern Shimotsuga District
Personal details
Born (1952-06-20) 20 June 1952 (age 72)
Shimotsuga, Tochigi, Japan
Political partyLiberal Democratic
Alma materNihon University

A member of the House of Representatives for the Liberal Democratic Party since 1996, Sato has also served in party positions as chairman of the General Council from 2020 to 2021 and chairman of the Diet Affairs Committee from 2013 to 2016.

A native of Tochigi Prefecture and graduate of Nihon University, he worked as for a construction company and served in the Tochigi Prefectural Assembly before his election to the House of Representatives.

Biography

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Tsutomu Sato was born on 20 June 1952, in the Shimotsuga District of Tochigi Prefecture. He studied engineering at Nihon University and worked at Hazama Corporation after graduating in 1975. In 1987 he was elected to the Tochigi Prefectural Assembly.[1]

Sato was elected as a LDP candidate for Tochigi 4th district in the October 1996 House of Representatives election. He served as parliamentary vice minister of Health, Labour and Welfare from 2001 to 2002, chairman of the House Committee on Internal Affairs and Communications from 2006 and senior vice minister for Internal Affairs and Communications in 2007.[1]

In September 2008, he was appointed Sato was appointed as Chairman of the National Public Safety Commission and Minister of State for Okinawa and Northern Territories Affairs in the cabinet of Prime Minister Taro Aso.[2][3] He was also appointed Minister Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications in June 2009 after Kunio Hatoyama resigned. Sato served in this and his previous positions concurrently until Motoo Hayashi was appointed to succeed him in the latter.[4] The LDP lost power after the 2009 election, but Sato retained a seat in the Diet.

The LDP returned to power in 2012, and Sato was appointed chairman of the Diet Affairs Committee in October 2013, when his predecessor Ichiro Kamoshita resigned due to health reasons. He held the post until 2016. Sato served as chairman of the LDP General Council under Yoshihide Suga from 2020 to 2021.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "国会議員情報:佐藤 勉". Jiji.com (in Japanese). Jiji Press Ltd. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  2. ^ "Aso elected premier / Announces Cabinet lineup himself; poll likely on Nov. 2", The Yomiuri Shimbun, 25 September 2008.
  3. ^ "Sato Tsutomu". Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  4. ^ "Sato Tsutomu". Retrieved 15 August 2015.
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Political offices
Preceded by Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications
2009
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chairman of the National Public Safety Commission
2008—2009
Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Chairman of the Diet Affairs Committee,
Liberal Democratic Party

2013—2016
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chairman of the General Council,
Liberal Democratic Party

2020—2021
Succeeded by