Mr. Shigenori 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 as well as U.S.-Japan aviation negotiations. He was the Deputy Director of the Japan Railway Companies Office, Railway Bureau, Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT), from 2001 through 2002. He also was the Deputy Director, Aviation Industry Division, Civil Aviation Bureau, MLIT from 2002 through 2004. Before coming to Washington, D.C., he was the Director of the Global Environmental Policy Office, Policy Bureau, MLIT. Due to his background, Mr. Hiraoka has a keen interest in environmental and aviation issues. He graduated from the University of Tokyo with a Bachelor of Law in 1989 and received a Master in Public Policy in 1995 from the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.