| September 2008 | Minister for Foreign Affairs |
| 2007 | Chairman, Committee on Discipline, House of Councillors
Chairman, the LDP' Research Commission on Culture and Tradition |
| 2006 | Chairman, Special Committee on Fundamental Law of Education, House of Councillors |
| 2004 | Chairman, Committee on Budget, House of Coucillors |
| 2002 | President of the Judge Impeachment Court |
| 2001 | Chairman, Deliberative Council on Political Ethics, House of Councillors |
| 2000 | Minister of Education, Science, Sports and Culture, and Director-General of the Science and Technology Agency (Mori Cabinet)
Special Adviser to the prime minister (educational issues) |
| 1999 | Minister of Education, Science, Sports and Culture, and Director-General of the Science and Technology Agency (Obuchi Cabinet) |
| 1998 | Chairman, the LDP' Policy Deliberation Board for the House of Councillors
Chairman, Special Committee on Managing Debts of Japan National Railway
Settlement Corporation and Reform of National Forestry Services, House of Councillors |
| 1997 | Chairman, Committee on Rules and Administration, House of Councillors |
| 1993 | Chairman, Committee on Commerce and Industry, House of Councillors |
| 1990 | Parliamentary Vice-Minister, Ministry of International Trade and Industry |
| 1986 | Elected as a member of the House of Councillors for the first time
(successively elected 4 times to date) |
| 1983 | Special Assistant to the prime minister and the secretary to the president of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) |
| 1968 | Entered Asahi Chemical Industry (-1983) |
