Education: graduated from Faculty of Law, the University of Tokyo
Career: 　1968/4  　1977/7  　1983/12 　1993/8  　1998/7  　2002/10  　2006/9  　2007/8	Associate judge, Tokyo District Court Associate judge, Chiba Family Court Associate judge, Yokohama District Court Diploma in Law, the University of Oxford elected to the House of Councillors Member, House of Representatives, Okayama No.1 Constituency (elected to the House of Representatives, four consecutive times) Minister of State, Director-General of Science and Technology Agency reelected to the House of Councillors (elected twice since) Chairman, Committee on Fundamental National Policies Chairman, Committee on Discipline elected President of the House of Councillors
Political Parties:
1977/5  　1978/3  　1985/2  　1994/6  　2003/12  　2004/7	President, Socialist Citizens’ League Vice-President, United Social Democratic Party President, United Social Democratic Party Vice-President, Japan New Party Vice-President, The Democratic Party of Japan President, Association of DP-SR Members in the House of Councillors
Current Responsibilities: 　Lawyer 　Counsellor, Okayama City Swimming Federation 　Director, Japanese Society for Preservation of Birds
Family: Wife: Mrs. EDA Kyoko, one daughter and two sons
Literary works: 　“A Memorandum for a Start”, “A Member of the National Diet” (both in Japanese)
Hobbies: Swimming, Calligraphy

(As of August, 2007)