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Heizo Takenaka is a professor emeritus at Keio University and a professor at Toyo University in Japan. He was formerly Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications (2005-2006). In his capacity as an economist and as part of his social activities, he also serves on several advisory boards and committees including: Member of the Policy Council under Abe Administration; Director, Academy hills and Chairman, Pasona Group Inc and Outside Director, Orix Corporation and Outside Director, SBI Holdings Inc. He was named to the Foundation Board of the World Economic Forum in 2007. Professor Takenaka’s research interest is in economic policy.

In 2001, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi named Professor Takenaka the Minister for Economic/Fiscal Policy, during which he chaired the Council on Economic & Fiscal Policy, steered macroeconomic policy and spearheaded Japan’s economic structural reform. In 2002, Professor Takenaka was named Minister for both Financial Services & Economic/Fiscal Policy. In 2004, he was elected to the House of Councilors, and was named Minister for both Economic/Fiscal Policy and Privatization of the Postal Services. In this capacity, he realized the privatization of Japan Post, the biggest public enterprise in Japan. In 2005, he was named the Minister for both Internal Affairs and Communication, and Privatization of the Postal Services. The following year, Professor Takenaka returned to academia.

His academic experience includes: Senior Economist, Institute of Fiscal and Monetary Policy, Japanese Ministry of Finance; Associate Professor, Faculty of Economics, Osaka University; Visiting Associate Professor, Harvard University; Visiting Fellow, Institute of International Economics and Associate Professor & Professor, Faculty of Policy Management, Keio University. Professor Takenaka was named a member of the Economic Strategy Council (advisory board for economic policy to the Prime Minister) in 1998 and a member of the IT Strategy Council (advisory board on IT policy to the Prime Minister) in 2000.

Takenaka received his B.A. in economics from Hitotsubashi University & his Ph.D in economics from Osaka University. He is the author of numerous books.