Tsuneo Suzuki

Tsuneo Suzuki
鈴木 恒夫
Official portrait, 2008
Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
In office 2 August 2008 – 24 September 2008
Prime Minister	Yasuo Fukuda
Preceded by	Kisaburo Tokai
Succeeded by	Ryū Shionoya
Member of the House of Representatives
In office 21 October 1996 – 21 July 2009
Preceded by	Constituency established
Succeeded by	Nobuhiko Sutō
Constituency	Kanagawa 7th (1996–2003; 2005–2009) Southern Kanto PR (2003–2005)
In office 7 July 1986 – 18 June 1993
Constituency	Kanagawa 1st
Personal details
Born	(1941-02-10) 10 February 1941 (age 83) Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
Political party	Liberal Democratic
Other political affiliations	New Liberal Club
Alma mater	Waseda University

Tsuneo Suzuki (鈴木 恒夫, Suzuki Tsuneo, born February 10, 1941) is a retired Japanese politician who served in the House of Representatives as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. A native of Yokohama, Kanagawa and graduate of Waseda University, he was elected for the first time in 1986 after an unsuccessful run in 1983, both as a member of the now-defunct party New Liberal Club.^[1]

A 15-year reporter for the Mainichi Shimbun, Suzuki began his career in politics as a secretary for Yōhei Kōno, the current Lower House speaker. Regarded as a close associate of Kono, Suzuki has been heavily involved in education and environment issues, including efforts to revise the Fundamental Law of Education under Shinzō Abe. Although he announced in October 2007 his intention to retire from politics at the end of this term, Suzuki was selected by Yasuo Fukuda on August 1, 2008, as the cabinet's new Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.^[2]