Yoshimasa Hayashi

Yoshimasa Hayashi (林 芳正, Hayashi Yoshimasa, born 19 January 1961) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, Koga Faction. He is a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature), currently serving his third term in the Upper House representing Yamaguchi Prefecture.

Yoshimasa Hayashi
林 芳正
Yoshimasa Hayashi at the St. Gallen Symposium in May 2011
Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
In office 3 August 2017 – 2 October 2018
Prime Minister	Shinzō Abe
Preceded by	Hirokazu Matsuno
Succeeded by	Masahiko Shibayama
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
In office 23 February 2015 – 7 October 2015
Prime Minister	Shinzō Abe
Preceded by	Koya Nishikawa
Succeeded by	Hiroshi Moriyama
In office 26 December 2012 – 3 September 2014
Prime Minister	Shinzō Abe
Preceded by	Akira Gunji
Succeeded by	Koya Nishikawa
Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy
In office 2 July 2009 – 16 September 2009
Prime Minister	Taro Aso
Preceded by	Kaoru Yosano
Succeeded by	Naoto Kan
Minister of Defense
In office 2 August 2008 – 24 September 2008
Prime Minister	Yasuo Fukuda
Preceded by	Shigeru Ishiba
Succeeded by	Yasukazu Hamada
Personal details
Born	(1961-01-19) 19 January 1961 Shimonoseki, Japan
Political party	Liberal Democratic Party
Parents	Yoshiro Hayashi
Alma mater	University of Tokyo John F. Kennedy School of Government

Biography

A native of Shimonoseki, Hayashi is the son of late politician Yoshiro Hayashi.[1] He graduated from the University of Tokyo and studied at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. In the United States, he was a staffer for U.S. Representative Stephen L. Neal and U.S. Senator William V. Roth, Jr.. He began his career with Mitsui & Co.. Hayashi entered politics as a secretary to his father, Finance Minister Yoshiro Hayashi, in 1992. Around the same time, he was also the member of the policy staff for a US senator. Hayashi was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 1995. He represents the fourth generation of politicians in his family and has concentrated on administrative and tax reform since taking office.[2]

Hayashi was appointed to the Cabinet for the first time as Minister of Defense on 1 August 2008.[3] He held this post for less than two months, however; in the Cabinet of Prime Minister Taro Aso, appointed on 24 September 2008, Hayashi was replaced by Yasukazu Hamada.[4]

After the LDP returned to power in the December 2012 general election Hayashi was appointed Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.[5][6]

He likes karaoke and golf. He plays the guitar and keyboard with LDP colleagues in a band called Gi!nz.[2]

References

1. "Y. Hayashi to replace Yosano as economic and fiscal policy minister". Japan Policy & Politics. Tokyo. 6 July 2009. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
2. Japan Times, "Fukuda's new lineup", 3 August 2008.
3. "Fukuda overhauls Cabinet / LDP executive shakeup also elevates Aso to party No. 2", The Yomiuri Shimbun, 2 August 2008.
4. "Aso elected premier / Announces Cabinet lineup himself; poll likely on Nov. 2", The Yomiuri Shimbun, 25 September 2008.
5. Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Yoshimasa HAYASHI Retrieved on 28 November 2013
6. Nationalism takes back seat to the economy Japan Times, 27 December 2012.

External links

• Official website in Japanese.

Political offices
Preceded by Shigeru Ishiba	Minister of Defense 2008	Succeeded by Yasukazu Hamada
Preceded by Kaoru Yosano	Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy 2009	Succeeded by Naoto Kan
Preceded by Akira Gunji	Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries 2012–2014	Succeeded by Koya Nishikawa
Preceded by Koya Nishikawa	Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries 2015	Succeeded by Hiroshi Moriyama
Preceded by Hirokazu Matsuno	Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology 2017–2018	Succeeded by Masahiko Shibayama
House of Councillors
Preceded by Kenichi Yamada	Councillor for Yamaguchi's At-large district 1995–present	Incumbent