Tetsuo Saito (斉藤 鉄夫, Saitō Tetsuo, born February 5, 1952) 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.

Tetsuo Saito
斉藤 鉄夫
Official portrait, 2021
Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
Assumed office
4 October 2021
Prime MinisterFumio Kishida
Preceded byKazuyoshi Akaba
Minister of the Environment
In office
2 August 2008 – 16 September 2009
Prime MinisterYasuo Fukuda
Tarō Asō
Preceded byIchirō Kamoshita
Succeeded bySakihito Ozawa
Member of the House of Representatives
Assumed office
19 July 1993
ConstituencyHiroshima 3rd
(past: former Hiroshima 1st, Chūgoku PR block)
Personal details
Born (1952-02-05) 5 February 1952 (age 72)
Ōchi District, Shimane, Japan
Political partyKomeito
Alma materTokyo Institute of Technology

Career edit

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 edit

  1. ^ a b c d Japan Times, "Fukuda's new lineup", August 3, 2008.
  2. ^ "Fukuda overhauls Cabinet / LDP executive shakeup also elevates Aso to party No. 2", The Yomiuri Shimbun, August 2, 2008.
  3. ^ "Aso elected premier / Announces Cabinet lineup himself; poll likely on Nov. 2", The Yomiuri Shimbun, September 25, 2008.
  4. ^ Profile
  • 政治家情報 〜斉藤 鉄夫〜. ザ・選挙 (in Japanese). JANJAN. Archived from the original on 2007-12-03. Retrieved 2007-10-20. {{cite web}}: External link in |work= (help)

External links edit

Political offices
Preceded by Minister of the Environment
2008–2009
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
2021–present
Incumbent