Bachelor's in Engineering, Miyazaki University. 1975, joined Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. With Matsushita Electric Industrial Workers' Union: 1975, Member; 1994, General Secretary; 1996, President. 2002, President, Japanese Electrical, Electronic & Information Union (DENKI RENGO). 2004, President, Japan Council of Metalworkers' Unions (IMF-JC). With Japanese Trade Union Confederation: 2005, General Secretary; 2009, re-elected in 2011, President.