1984, with Chunichi Shimbun Corporation, 1994, joined New Party Sakigake and Representative of its Aichi Preparatory Body; 1996, joined Democratic Party of Japan; 1996, 2000, 2003, 2005 and 2007, elected to House of Representatives, Japan; 2003, Minister of the Environment; s005, Chairman, Special Committee on Children and Youth Affairs; 2006, Representative, DPJ Prefectural Headquarter, Aichi; 2007-09, Chief Director, Committee on Foreign Affairs; Chairman, Committee on Internal Affairs and Communications; since September 2010, Senior Vice-Minister of the Environment.