Hideki Murai

Hideki Murai was born on 14 May 1980 in Urawa, Saitama Prefecture. After attending Kaijo Academy, he studied at the University of Tokyo. Initially a science major, he switched to study international politics, and joined the Ministry of Finance after graduating in 2003. Murai was involved in FTA negotiations and tax administration and was also seconded to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. While in the Ministry he attended Harvard University and graduated in 2010. Murai left the ministry the following year and applied to become a candidate for the Liberal Democratic Party in the upcoming election.^[1]

Murai was elected as the LDP candidate for Saitama 1st district in the 2012 House of Representatives election, in which the LDP regained power. Murai joined the Kōchikai and became a close aide to its leader Fumio Kishida.^[2] In 2021, Murai headed the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's panel on digital currencies.^[3]

After Fumio Kishida became prime minister, he appointed Murai as Special Adviser to the Prime Minister for Domestic Economic and other special issues. In the September 2023 reshuffle he was promoted to Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary.^[1] He stepped down along with the cabinet in October 2024.^[4]