Goshi Hosono

Who is Goshi Hosono?

Goshi Hosono is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet. A native of Ōmihachiman, Shiga and graduate of Kyoto University, he was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 2000. He is the current Nuclear Disaster Minister of Japan. In September 2011 he was re-appointed as Nuclear Disaster Minister and also appointed as Minister of the Environment in the cabinet of newly appointed prime minister Yoshihiko Noda.

Goshi Hosono considered running in the September 2012 DPJ presidential elections against incumbent Yoshihiko Noda, but was eventually dissuaded from doing so by senior members of the party.

Goshi Hosono is a protegé of DPJ Secretary General Azuma Koshiishi, who sees him as a potential future Prime Minister.

After Noda's re-election as party president, and re-appointment of Koshiishi as Secretary General of the DPJ, Noda persuaded Hosono to become chairman of the party Policy Research Committee. The appointment of the popular 41-year old Hosono was seen as important in preparing for the upcoming general election.