Masakazu Sekiguchi | |
|---|---|
関口 昌一 | |
.jpg) Sekiguchi in 2025 | |
| President of the House of Councillors | |
| Assumed office 11 November 2024 | |
| Monarch | Naruhito |
| Vice President | Hiroyuki Nagahama Tetsuro Fukuyama |
| Preceded by | Hidehisa Otsuji |
| Member of theHouse of Councillors | |
| Assumed office 26 October 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Takujirō Hamada |
| Constituency | Saitama at-large |
| Member of theSaitama Prefectural Assembly | |
| In office 1995–2003 | |
| Constituency | Kita 2nd |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1953-06-04)4 June 1953 (age 72) |
| Party | Liberal Democratic |
| Alma mater | Josai Dental University |
Masakazu Sekiguchi (関口 昌一,Sekiguchi Masakazu; born June 4, 1953) is a Japanesepolitician of theLiberal Democratic Party who has served as thePresident of the House of Councillors since 2024.
Born inSaitama Prefecture, Sekiguchi was a dentist and a member of the Saitama Prefectural Assembly before his first election to the House of Councillors in 2003. He served as parliamentary vice minister for Foreign Affairs, senior vice minister for Internal Affairs and Communications and chairman of the LDP caucus in the House of Councillors, before he was elected President of the House of Councillors in 2024.
Masakazu Sekiguchi was born on 4 June 1953 inMinano, Saitama, to a family of dentists. His father Keizo Sekiguchi was president of the Saitama Dental Association and a member of the House of Councillors for the LDP from 1980 to 1992. Sekiguchi was educated at the Josai Dental University, currentlyMeikai University. After graduating in 1979, he worked at his family's dental clinic.[1]
Sekiguchi was elected to theSaitama Prefectural Assembly in 1995, as a member of the LDP. In 2003 he ran for the House of Councillors inSaitama at-large district by-election, as the incumbent Takujiro Hamada had resigned to run for governor. Sekiguchi defeatedChiyako Shimada of theDemocratic Party and was elected for the first time. He has subsequently been returned four times.[1][2]
In 2006, Sekiguchi received his first government position as parliamentary vice minister for foreign affairs under theFirst Abe Cabinet. He became chairman of the committee on Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in the House of Councillors the following year, serving until 2008. He then served as senior vice minister for Internal Affairs and Communications under theSecond Abe Cabinet from September 2013 to September 2014.[1]
Sekiguchi became Chairman of the Diet Affairs Committee for the LDP in the House of Councillors in 2017.[3] In 2019, he was elected Chairman of the LDP in the House of Councillors.[4] He was elected President of the House of Councillors in November 2024, whenHidehisa Otsuji resigned for health reasons.[5]
| House of Councillors | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | President of the House of Councillors 2024–present | Incumbent |
| Preceded by | Chairman of the Committee on Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology 2007–2008 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party in the House of Councillors 2019–2024 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chairman of the Diet Affairs Committee for the Liberal Democratic Party in the House of Councillors 2017–2019 | Succeeded by |