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Date of birth: Dec. 20, 1951
Nonpolitician
Known as one of the leading reformist governors when he was at the helm of Iwate Prefecture for 12 years, Masuda was reappointed to the Cabinet post he has held since initially being assigned by Shinzo Abe.
With his background as a former Construction Ministry bureaucrat, Masuda has earned a reputation as a solid hand in policy matters and has the trust of local government leaders.
However, some critics raised questions about his political mettle after he failed to persuade fellow Cabinet members to spell out bold initiatives for government decentralization.
As Iwate governor, he cut public spending through personnel cuts and took the initiative in introducing an industrial waste tax system.
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