Biography

Mr. ITŌ Gakuji joined the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture in 1991 (now the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology; MEXT).

Throughout his career, he has served in various positions across MEXT, including Deputy Director of the Monuments and Sites Division at the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Director of the Social Education Division and Director of the Finance Division at MEXT. In addition, he has held senior positions in local government, serving as Director for Cultural Affairs, Iwate Prefectural Government; Deputy Superintendent, Hiroshima Prefectural Board of Education; and Superintendent, Nagano Prefectural Board of Education.

He later served as Chief Financial Officer of the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Director-General of the Higher Education Bureau at MEXT, and Deputy Commissioner for Cultural Affairs.

He assumed his current position as Commissioner for Cultural Affairs on April 1, 2026.