House of Representatives Member Saitō Ken

Saitō KenBorn in 1959. Graduated from the University of Tokyo, where he majored in economics, and joined the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (now the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry), where he held positions in various fields, including energy policy, small business affairs, and information technology policy. Took part in the Japan-US automobile negotiations starting in 1994, served as executive assistant to the minister, and was seconded to Saitama Prefecture as vice-governor. Left the ministry in 2006 and sought political office, winning a seat in the House of Representatives from the south Kantō proportional-representation block in the August 2009 election. His works include Tenraku no rekishi ni nani o miru ka (What Should We See in the History of Falls?).

Saitō’s desk in his office at the Diet Members’ Building: This is where policies are born.