Tetsuo Saito is a Japanese politician who serves as chief representative of the Komeito since 2024.
10 Facts About Tetsuo Saito
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Tetsuo Saito served as Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism from 2021 to 2024 and Minister of the Environment from 2008 to 2009.
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Tetsuo Saito was elected to serve as chief representative of the Komeito to succeed Keiichi Ishii, who was defeated in the 2024 election.
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Tetsuo Saito was born on 5 February 1952, in Ochi District, Shimane.
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Tetsuo Saito's father was a village councilman belonging to the Liberal Democratic Party and the head of a local group supporting Noboru Takeshita.
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Tetsuo Saito was a visiting researcher at Princeton University for three years beginning in 1986.
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Tetsuo Saito was elected to the Diet for the first time in 1993.
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Tetsuo Saito is known for his ties with NASA as well as expert knowledge of lunar bases and clean energy technology.
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Tetsuo Saito was appointed Minister of the Environment by Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on 1 August 2008.
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On 9 November 2024, Tetsuo Saito was selected as leader of Komeito following an extraordinary party convention to replace Keiichi Ishii, who lost his parliamentary seat in the 2024 Japanese general election.