Tsuneo Suzuki

is a retired Japanese politician who served in the House of Representatives as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party.

Early life A native of Yokohama, Kanagawa, Suzuki graduated from Waseda University.

Before his political career, he worked for 15 years as a reporter for the Mainichi Shimbun

Political career. Suzuki began his career in politics as a secretary for Yōhei Kōno, the current Lower House speaker.

He was elected for the first time in 1986 after an unsuccessful run in 1983, both as a member of the now-defunct party New Liberal Club.

Regarded as a close associate of Kono, Suzuki has been heavily involved in education and environment issues, including efforts to revise the Fundamental Law of Education under Shinzo Abe.

Although he announced in October 2007 his intention to retire from politics at the end of this term, Suzuki was selected by Yasuo Fukuda on 1 August 2008, as the cabinet's new Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.