Taku Otsuka, who is a member of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), was elected as a Member of the House of the Representatives in September 2005. In the House, he serves on the Security Committee, the Committee on Cabinet, the Special Committee on Prevention of International Terrorism and Japan's Cooperation and Support; Humanitarian Assistance for Reconstruction in Iraq, and the Special Committee on Political Ethics and Election Law. In the LDP, he serves as the Deputy Director-General of the International Bureau and the Deputy Director of the Youth Division. He is also an active Policy Division member of the Defense Division, the Foreign Affairs Division, the Treasury and Finance Division; the Economy, Trade and Industry Division; and the Annual Expenditures Reform Project Team (Social Security).

Mr. Otsuka is a member of a well known business family that owns the highly esteemed shoe manufacturing company, Otsuka Shoe Co., Ltd. Naturally he was raised to take over the family business.

Mr. Otsuka turned to politics in 1994, when the GATT Uruguay agreement forced Japan to open its shoe market. He devoted himself to the study of international political economy and industrial policies taught in Keio University's Political Science Department. Consequently, he started to think of becoming a statesman.

Upon graduation from Keio University in 1997, Mr. Otsuka started work at the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Ltd. (currently The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.). He worked in the marketing and planning of corporate finance area and was involved in developing new internet-based services. This experience helped him to understand how economy and finance work, as well as how huge organizations function on a day to day basis.

In 2003, Mr. Otsuka left the bank and entered Harvard University's Kennedy School in order to deepen his understanding of international politics and economics and to prepare to run for election. While Mr. Otsuka studied public policy and East Asian regional integration, he also took the time to encourage Japanese students' activities as the leader of the Japan Caucus student group. He also researched the relationship between Japan and China under Professor Ezra F. Vogel. In 2005, he received a Master in Public Policy degree (majoring in International Trade and Finance.)

Mr. Otsuka's political aim is to revitalize Japan whilst developing Japan's relationships with other Asian countries, consequently maintaining the balance of power in the world.

He is actively involved in a wide range of other issues, including fiscal consolidation, public diplomacy, nursing care, education reform, and the promotion of Japanese cultures.

Not only does Mr. Otsuka enjoy listening to opera and classical music but he also plays the clarinet.