加藤明良

Akiyoshi Kato is a Japanese politician currently serving as a member of the House of Councillors and as the Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry and Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Cabinet Office in the Second Ishiba Cabinet. Born in Mito, Ibaraki, he previously served three terms as a member of the Ibaraki Prefectural Assembly. Before entering elected office, he worked as a public secretary for members of the House of Councillors. Politically, he supports constitutional reform, including the explicit mention of the Self-Defense Forces in Article 9, and has expressed support for the introduction of selective separate surnames for married couples.