| Jun. 2011: | Minister of Justice, Minister of Environment
(2nd Reshuffled Kan Cabinet) |
| Jan. 2011: | Minister of Justice (2nd Reshuffled Kan Cabinet) |
| Sep. 2010: | Supreme Advisor, the Democratic Party of Japan
Chair, Ethics Committee |
| Jul. 2010: | Re-elected to the House of Councilors for the fourth term |
| Aug. 2007: | President of the House of Councilors |
| Sep. 2006: | Chairman, Committee on Discipline |
| Jul. 2004: | President, the Democratic Party and the Shin-Ryokufukai (DP-SR) in the House of Councilors |
| Jul. 2004: | Re-elected to the House of Councilors for the third term |
| Dec. 2003: | Vice-President, the Democratic Party of Japan |
| Oct. 2002: | Chairman, Committee on Fundamental National Policies, House of Councilors |
| Sep. 2001: | Next Minister (Shadow Cabinet) of Justice, Democratic Party of Japan |
| Sep. 2000: | Chairman of the NPO Committee, Democratic Party of Japan |
| Oct. 1999: | Next Minister (Shadow Cabinet) of Justice, Democratic Party of Japan |
| Jul. 1998: | Re-elected to the House of Councilors for the second term |
| Dec. 1995: | Minister in charge of Labor and Employment of the Tomorrow (Shadow) Cabinet of New Frontier Party |
| Dec. 1994: | Founding member of New Frontier Party. Chairman of the Public Relations Committee (NFP) |
| Jun. 1994: | Vice-President, Japan New Party |
| Aug. 1993: | Minister of State for Science and Technology |
| Jul. 1993: | Re-elected to the House of Representatives for the fourth term |
| Feb. 1990: | Re-elected to the House of Representatives for the third term |
| Jul. 1986: | Re-elected to the House of Representatives for the second term |
| Feb. 1985: | President, United Social Democratic Party |
| Dec. 1983: | Elected to the House of Representatives |
| Mar. 1978: | Vice-President, United Social Democratic Party |
| Jul. 1977: | Elected to the House of Councilors |
| May 1977: | President, Socialist Citizens' League |
| Jun. 1971: | Diploma in Law, the University of Oxford |
| Apr. 1968: | Associate judge, Tokyo District Court, Chiba District Court and Yokohama District Court |
| Mar. 1966: | Graduated from the University of Tokyo (Faculty of Law) |
