Tetsushi Sakamoto

Tetsushi Sakamoto (坂本 哲志, Sakamoto Tetsushi; born 1950) is a Japanese politician who served as the minister of loneliness from 12 February 2021 to 4 October 2021 and as the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries from 14 December 2023 to 1 October 2024. He is also a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature), representing the Liberal Democratic Party.

Tetsushi Sakamoto
坂本 哲志
Official portrait, 2022
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
In office 14 December 2023 – 1 October 2024
Prime Minister	Fumio Kishida
Preceded by	Ichiro Miyashita
Succeeded by	Yasuhiro Ozato
Minister of Loneliness
In office 12 February 2021 – 4 October 2021
Prime Minister	Yoshihide Suga
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Seiko Noda
Member of the House of Representatives
Incumbent
Assumed office 30 July 2007
Preceded by	Toshikatsu Matsuoka
Constituency	Kumamoto 3rd
In office 11 November 2003 – 8 August 2005
Preceded by	Toshikatsu Matsuoka
Succeeded by	Toshikatsu Matsuoka
Constituency	Kumamoto 3rd
Member of the Kumamoto Prefectural Assembly
In office 1991–2003
Constituency	Kikuchi District
Personal details
Born	(1950-11-06) 6 November 1950 (age 74) Kikuchi, Kumamoto, Japan
Political party	LDP (1991–1993; 1998–2003; 2007–present)
Other political affiliations	NPS (1993–1998) Independent (2003–2007)
Alma mater	Chuo University

Career

A native of Ōzu, Kumamoto and graduate of Chuo University, he had served in the assembly of Kumamoto Prefecture for four terms since 1991. He was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 2003.

His profile on the LDP website:^[1]

• Member, Kumamoto Prefectural Assembly
• Parliamentary Secretary for Internal Affairs and Communications (Fukuda and Aso Cabinet)
• Deputy Chairman, Diet Affairs Committee of LDP
• Acting Director, Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications Division of LDP
• Chairman, Committee on Organizations Involved with Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of LDP
• Senior Vice Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications / Senior Vice Minister of Cabinet Office

Sakamoto is affiliated to the openly revisionist lobby Nippon Kaigi,^[2] a member of the related group at the Diet, as well as of the group related to Shintō Seiji Renmei at the Diet.

Minister of Loneliness

On 12 February 2021, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga created a cabinet post to alleviate social isolation. Sakamoto was appointed to fill the post.^[3]