18 Facts About Toshimitsu Motegi

Toshimitsu Motegi is a Japanese politician who served as the Secretary-General of the Liberal Democratic Party from 2021 to 2024.

Toshimitsu Motegi has previously served as Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2019 to 2021, and as Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry from 2012 to 2014.

Toshimitsu Motegi is serving in the House of Representatives as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party.

Toshimitsu Motegi leads the Heisei Kenkyukai faction within the LDP.

Toshimitsu Motegi graduated from the University of Tokyo in 1978 and worked for the trading company Marubeni Corporation until 1980.

Toshimitsu Motegi was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in the 1993 general election as a member of the Japan New Party, representing the Tochigi 5th district.

Toshimitsu Motegi changed his political affiliation to the Liberal Democratic Party in 1994, when JNP was dissolved.

Toshimitsu Motegi was appointed Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs in October 2002 under Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

Toshimitsu Motegi left the Cabinet in September 2014 to serve as Chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party Election Committee.

Toshimitsu Motegi was appointed Chairman of the LDP Policy Council in August 2016.

Toshimitsu Motegi was appointed Minister for Economic Revitalization and State Minister for Economic and Fiscal Policy in 2017.

In 2018, Toshimitsu Motegi was revealed to have possibly breached Japan's electoral laws.

Toshimitsu Motegi was accused of making illegal donations of incense sticks to his constituents through his personal secretary.

Toshimitsu Motegi was active in gathering support for Abe's re-election as president of the Liberal Democratic Party that year.

Toshimitsu Motegi was appointed Secretary-General of the LDP by LDP leader Fumio Kishida after the resignation of the previous incumbent Akira Amari following the 2021 general elections.

Toshimitsu Motegi leads one of the main factions of the LDP party and is rumored to be a potential contender to become prime minister.

Kishida has allegedly been dedicating time to blocking Toshimitsu Motegi from attempting to pursue his ambition further.

Only a few cabinet posts were given to members of his faction, the Heisei Kenkyukai; this was seen as punishment for Toshimitsu Motegi backing Sanae Takaichi against Shigeru Ishiba in the second round of the LDP presidential election.