Mr. Hiraoka joined the Ministry of Transport in 1989. Since joining the ministry, he has been assigned to various positions related to transportation issues. He was involved in GATT and WTO negotiations, and US-Japan aviation negotiations. He was Deputy Director, Japan Railway Companies Office, Railway Bureau, Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transport, (MLIT) from 2001 through 2002. He was Deputy Director, Aviation Industry Division, Civil Aviation Bureau, MLIT from 2002 through 2004. Before coming to Washington, DC, he was Director of Global Environmental Policy Office, Policy Bureau, MLIT. Due to his background, he has a keen interest in environmental and aviation issues. He graduated from University of Tokyo with a Bachelor of Law in 1989, and received a Mater in Public Policy in 1995 from Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.