Satsuki Katayama, Member of the House of Councillors and Minister of Finance

We will work with all our might to make Japan a country where citizens can have dreams for the future through "responsible and proactive fiscal policy."

Satsuki Katayama, Member of the House of Councillors and Minister of Finance

■ Profile
Born in Saitama Prefecture in 1959. After graduating from the Faculty of Law at the University of Tokyo, she joined the Ministry of Finance (now the Ministry of Finance). She has held numerous positions, including Director of the Hiroshima-Kaita Tax Office, member of the G7 Summit delegation, supervisory and management position at a financial institution, Director of General Affairs at Yokohama Customs, and Budget Officer at the Budget Bureau, all of which were firsts for women. In 2005, she was first elected to the House of Representatives. In 2018, she became Minister of State for Special Missions in the Cabinet Office. In October 2025, she will become the first female Minister of Finance in Japanese constitutional history (concurrently serving as Minister of State for Financial Services).

■Please tell us what inspired you to become a politician.

Since my student days, I've had a strong desire to do work that would benefit society. After graduating from university, I joined the Ministry of Finance (now the Ministry of Finance) and gained experience in almost all of the ministry's major departments, including taxation, customs, banking, securities, international finance, and serving as a chief examiner and budget officer in the Budget Bureau. Looking back, I think I had an ideal career path to become a politician. I then entered politics in 2005, but was unsuccessful in my first election. As a bureaucrat, I worked tirelessly to create a country where citizens could have dreams for the future through "responsible and proactive fiscal policy," and many people bowed their heads in gratitude. But it's not that simple for politicians. First, you have to be elected by the voters, and I've come to realize that this difficulty is what strengthens a politician's foundation.

■Please tell us what policies you would like to implement as Minister of Finance.

The current Takaichi Cabinet advocates "responsible and proactive fiscal policy." The policy is to invest firmly in necessary sectors so that citizens can have dreams for the future. Responding to concerns that current policies lack ambition, the government has increased operating grants for national universities, which had been cut for many years, and has also raised remuneration for medical care and nursing. Furthermore, investment in areas such as AI, quantum computing, and space exploration is essential to regain global dominance. The goal is to create an environment where outstanding talents like Elon Musk can emerge, and to dominate the world with technology originating from Japan.
We will manage finances to make such dreams a reality. In addition, it is important to accurately communicate the financial situation. We want to create an environment where accurate data can be put on the table and multifaceted discussions can take place.
Furthermore, technology is evolving rapidly, and one cannot remain at the top without constantly investing in cutting-edge technologies. In an era where a few geniuses might monopolize wealth, the role of politics becomes how to distribute it. In the future, I believe that a robot will become commonplace in every household, and machines will take on the burdens of labor. At that time, I think we will live in a society where humans pursue their own unique "purpose in life," including sports and arts. What is important is "values" and "wisdom." I aim to create a foundation where everyone can live healthily to the age of 100, and to create a country where everyone can feel happy while coexisting with technology.

■Please give us a message for students

In today's world, knowledge confined to a single field or compartmentalized area is no longer sufficient. Don't be limited by your faculty; make the most of the university environment and maintain a voracious appetite for continuous learning. Don't be complacent; actively challenge yourself by taking classes in other faculties or studying abroad. Those experiences will become valuable assets for your future.

Student Newspaper, April 2026 Issue: Masamasa Hattori (3rd year, N High School) / Kisei Ishii (1st year, Musashino Art University)

Seisei Ishii (1st year, Musashino Art University) / Naokazu Shimada (3rd year, Hosei University) / Yurie Watanabe (2nd year, Josai International University) / Hinano Shinoda (2nd year, Tokyo Kasei University) / Masamasa Hattori (3rd year, N High School)