Mr. Gemba has served as Japan’s foreign minister since September 2011. Previously he held positions as the Minister for National Policy, Minister of State for the New Public Commons, Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy and Minister of State for Space Policy. As minister of national policy, he played a central role in drafting a new energy policy that gradually reduces Japan’s dependence on nuclear power.

A Member of the Democratic Party, Gemba has been elected to the House of Representatives for six terms, initially in 1993 after serving in the assembly of Fukushima Prefecture for one term. He graduated from Sophia University and the Matsushita Institute of Government and Management.