Shinji Hirai

Shinji Hirai (Japanese平井 伸 治, Hirai Shinji, born September 17, 1961 in Chiyoda, Tokyo Prefecture) is a Japanese politician and Governor of Tottori Prefecture since 2007.

Hirai, graduate of the Law Faculty of the University of Tokyo, after graduating in 1984 was an official in the Jichi - shō, the " Ministry of self-government". There he was repeatedly engaged inter alia in the choice department from 1990 to 1993, he was sent to the prefectural government of Fukui, 1995 in the Federal Election Commission, the " Federal Election Commission " of the United States. In 1996 he was a guest at the University of California, Berkeley.

In 1999, Hirai in the prefecture of Tottori Management and then under Governor Yoshihiro Katayama became head of the general affairs department ( Somu -bu ), 2001 Deputy Governor. After one term, he returned in 2005, first in the Somu - shō that back " Ministry of General Affairs ", the successor to the Jichi - shō. In 2006 he took over the management of the New York office of Jichitai Kokusaika Kyōkai, the "Society for the internationalization of the authorities ."

As governor, Katayama 2007 announced to run not for another term, Hirai ended his official career and joined the gubernatorial election on 8 April 2007 as an Independent with the support of the LDP and Kōmeitō. With voter turnout of 61%, he could counter his only candidate who CPY -based Independent Atsuko Yamanouchi hit clear. He took office on 13 April 2007.