Shinji Inoue, Minister in charge of International Expositions and Minister of State for Special Missions in the Cabinet Office

Politicianship is my calling. Creating a better country and making many people happy.

Minister in charge of International Expositions and Minister of State for Special Missions in the Cabinet Office, Shinji Inoue

■ Profile

Born October 7, 1969. Graduated from Gakushuin Elementary School, Kaisei Junior and Senior High School, and the Faculty of Law at the University of Tokyo. Completed a Master's degree at Cambridge University in the UK. After working at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he was elected to the House of Representatives. He has served as State Minister of the Environment, State Minister of the Cabinet Office, Chairman of the House of Representatives Cabinet Committee, Director-General of the LDP Organizations Bureau, Deputy Secretary-General, and Director-General of the Youth Bureau. He is in charge of science and technology, innovation, space, health and medicine, consumer and food safety, the Cool Japan strategy, and intellectual property. He is a member of the Liberal Democratic Party's House of Representatives (elected six times) representing Tokyo's 25th district (Ome City, Akishima City, Fussa City, Hamura City, Akiruno City, Mizuho Town, Hinode Town, Okutama Town, and Hinohara Village). His hobbies include festivals, marathons, and visiting hot springs. His favorite saying is, "Never forget your original intentions."

What motivated you to become a politician?
It all started when I met some good friends. When I was in my third year of junior high school, I would get together with friends and talk about the future of Japan and the world, and our dreams. As we talked, I began to think, "We only have one life, so I want to do something to benefit society, help people in need, and make as many people as possible happy!" It was then that I realized that creating a better country would make more people happy, so I decided to become a politician with high aspirations. After graduating from university, I joined the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, but at the age of 34, I ran for office and became a politician. My dream since junior high school has come true, and I believe that politics is my calling. I will continue to work hard to create a better country, never forgetting my original intentions.

■What is rewarding about your work as a minister?
During my 17 years as a Diet member, the most memorable experience was my three years as Vice Minister of the Environment. At the time, I was in charge of the Fukushima nuclear accident and decontamination issues. I considered building relationships with local residents my top priority, and visited the area many times. Initially, some people were distrustful of politics, but as I listened to their stories, they began to open up, saying, "We're grateful that you continually come and listen to us." At that moment, I was reminded that human connections are the very essence of politics. I became a Minister of State in September 2020, and am currently responsible for science and technology, space policy, health and medical policy, and the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo. While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose a significant challenge, science and technology administration is a wonderful job that paves the way for the future, and I believe I have been entrusted with a job full of dreams and ambition. While the role of Minister carries great influence, heavy responsibility, and tension, I find my work extremely rewarding.

■Please give us a message for university students
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for freedom and preciousness, so I think it's good to do as many different things as you can. Few people have a clear vision for themselves, and many people are troubled by it, but among the many things they do, I hope they will find something that they find interesting and fun, without fear of failure. And the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo will be an Expo that will show us the future, so I really hope young people will come.

From the April 1, 2021 issue of the Student Newspaper (Kainari Tsujiuchi, third-year student at Nihon University)