Yoshimasa Hayashi

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.

A native of Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi, Hayashi graduated from the University of Tokyo and studied at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. 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."Japan Times", "Fukuda's new lineup", August 3, 2008.]

Hayashi was appointed to the Cabinet for the first time as Minister of Defense on August 1 2008. [ [http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20080802TDY01303.htm "Fukuda overhauls Cabinet / LDP executive shakeup also elevates Aso to party No. 2"] , "The Yomiuri Shimbun", August 2, 2008.] 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. [ [http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20080925TDY01303.htm "Aso elected premier / Announces Cabinet lineup himself; poll likely on Nov. 2"] , "The Yomiuri Shimbun", 25 September 2008.]

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

References

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External links

* [http://www.yoshimasa.com/ Official website] in Japanese.