12 Facts About Bunmei Ibuki

Bunmei Ibuki is a retired Japanese politician who served as the Speaker of the House of Representatives from 2012 to 2014.

Bunmei Ibuki was born in Kyoto to a family of textile wholesalers who had operated the business since the Edo period.

Bunmei Ibuki graduated with a BA from Kyoto University's economics department in 1960.

Bunmei Ibuki was dispatched to the Japanese embassy in London in 1965, where he stayed for four years.

Bunmei Ibuki entered politics in 1983 at former Finance Minister Michio Watanabe's behest.

Bunmei Ibuki is a member of the Liberal Democratic Party and has served in a variety of government positions, including Minister of Labour and National Public Safety Commission chairman.

Bunmei Ibuki was appointed Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology on 26 September 2006 as a part of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's first cabinet.

Bunmei Ibuki was appointed as Secretary-General of the LDP in September 2007; less than a year later, he was replaced in that position by Taro Aso and was instead appointed as Minister of Finance.

Bunmei Ibuki is known for his knowledge of finance and tax and welfare policies.

Bunmei Ibuki held the post of Finance Minister for less than two months and was replaced by Shoichi Nakagawa in the Cabinet of Prime Minister Taro Aso, appointed on 24 September 2008.

On 26 December 2012, Bunmei Ibuki was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan.

Bunmei Ibuki presided over the day of his inauguration, the election of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.