KAZUTO IHARA

Administrative Vice Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare

he has been in his current position since July 2024.
He joined the Ministry of Health and Welfare in 1987 after graduating from the University of Tokyo.

He has been involved in medical insurance reform, measures for declining birthrate, new disability welfare system, pension record problem, enactment of new law on intractable diseases, pension system reform, revision of medical service fee, etc. He has also worked for the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare as a planning officer of the Disability Health and Welfare Department, Social Affairs and Support Bureau and as a director of the Abuse Prevention Office, Equal Employment and Child and Family Affairs Bureau. After serving in the Prime Minister's Office, Japan Pension Service, Pension Management Councilor, Chief Policy Management Officer (in charge of comprehensive policy), Director-General of the Medical Policy Bureau, and Director-General of the Insurance Bureau.

He enjoys running, sometimes with his colleagues at the Imperial Palace.