is a Japanese politician and former

governor A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political regions, political region, in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the ...

Kagoshima Prefecture is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyushu and the Ryukyu Islands. Kagoshima Prefecture has a population of 1,527,019 (1 February 2025) and has a geographic area of 9,187 Square kilometre, km2 (3,547 Square m ...

in Japan. A native of

Izumi, Kagoshima 290pxIzumi Crane Migration Ground is a city located in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 51,450 in 25838 households, and a population density of 160 persons per km2. The total area of the city is . Geograph ...

and graduate of the

University of Tokyo The University of Tokyo (, abbreviated as in Japanese and UTokyo in English) is a public research university in Bunkyō, Tokyo, Japan. Founded in 1877 as the nation's first modern university by the merger of several pre-westernisation era ins ...

with the

Bachelor of Laws A Bachelor of Laws (; LLB) is an undergraduate law degree offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree and serves as the first professional qualification for legal practitioners. This degree requires the study of core legal subje ...

in June 1971, he had worked at the

Ministry of Home Affairs An interior ministry or ministry of the interior (also called ministry of home affairs or ministry of internal affairs) is a government department that is responsible for domestic policy, public security and law enforcement. In some states, the i ...

since 1972 before elected governor. He served three terms as governor from 2004 until 2016. In July 2016 he sought a fourth term but was defeated by

Satoshi Mitazono is a Japanese politician and journalist who is the former governor of Kagoshima Prefecture. He defeated the incumbent Yūichirō Itō at an election held on 10 July 2016. Early life and education Mitazono was born in Ibusuki, Kagoshima in 1958. ...

References

1947 births Living people People from Izumi, Kagoshima Politicians from Kagoshima Prefecture University of Tokyo alumni Governors of Kagoshima Prefecture {{Japan-politician-1940s-stub