A native of Katori District, Chiba, Hayashi graduated the Nihon University's College of Arts in 1970. Hayashi began his political career as a secretary to his late father, Taikan Hayashi, who served as chief of the former Environment Agency in the early 1990s.
Motoo Hayashi was elected to the assembly of Chiba Prefecture for the first time in 1983 and served for three times. He was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 1993. An expert on issues related to Narita International Airport, he was appointed Senior Vice-Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (Koizumi Cabinet) in 2003. He has pledged to improve Japan's transport network.[1]
On August 1, 2008 Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda appointed him to the cabinet position of National Public Chairman, State Minister in Charge of Okinawa and Affairs Related to the Northern Territories.[1]
Hayashi is currently serving in the Lower House representing Chiba's Tenth District and is a member of Shinzo Abe's cabinet with many responsibilities: Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Minister in charge of Industrial Competitiveness, Minister in charge of the Response to the Economic Impact caused by the Nuclear Accident, Minister of State for the Nuclear Damage Compensation and Decommissioning Facilitation Corporation.
Hayashi also served as Chairman of the Committee on Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Diet, Minister of State, Chairman of National Public Safety Commission (Aso Cabinet), and Acting Chairman, Election Strategy Committee.[2]
Conference of parliamentarians on the Shinto Association of Spiritual Leadership (神道政治連盟国会議員懇談会 - Shinto Seiji Renmei Kokkai Giin Kondankai) - NB: SAS a.k.a. Sinseiren, Shinto Political League
Hayashi gave the following answers to the questionnaires submitted by Mainichi to parliamentarians:
