title: Hiroshige Sekō
text: # Hiroshige Sekō
  
  Hiroshige Seko (世耕 弘成, Sekō Hiroshige, born 9 November 1962) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Wakayama Prefecture, he graduated from Waseda University and received a master's degree in corporate communications from Boston University. He was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 1998. He was elevated by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to serve as Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) from 3 August 2016 to 11 September 2019. As a Minister, he played a crucial role for announcing the export restrictions against South Korea in 2019.
  
  ## Honours
  
  * Netherlands: Grand Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau (29 October 2014)
  