Hiroshi Tabata

Hiroshi Tabata is among Japan’s foremost policy leaders in the fields of transportation and tourism, bringing a strong international perspective. 

Appointed commissioner of the Japan Tourism Agency in 2018, Tabata addressed pressing challenges such as workforce shortages in regional transportation and the development of local tourism infrastructure at a time when inbound tourism was reaching record highs. He advanced an integrated policy approach that linked tourism and mobility. 

Previously, Tabata played a central role in shaping transport policy as vice minister for transport, tourism and international affairs at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT). He was instrumental in establishing Japan’s initial framework for autonomous driving policy and promoting the adoption of advanced technologies to address issues such as Japan’s aging population and traffic congestion.  

Tabata also represented MLIT in the Japan-U.S. Economic Dialogue under the first administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, contributing to policy coordination and international negotiations with the United States. His international experience includes serving as first secretary at the Embassy of Japan in Australia. 

With nearly four decades on the front lines of transportation, mobility and tourism administration, Tabata has extensive expertise in institutional design, organizational management and international negotiations, both within and beyond Japan’s central government. 

Born in Aichi Prefecture, he graduated from the University of Tokyo Faculty of Law and joined the Ministry of Transport in 1981.