Kazuto Honda

Kazuto Honda is a global affiliate visiting scholar at the Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center (Shorenstein APARC) for 2024-25. Honda joined the Japanese Ministry of Finance (MoF) in 2013 and has been involved in policymaking across a variety of areas, including budget management, government assets, financial inspections, the SDGs, and personal information protection. In 2013, he contributed to the budgeting process for the reconstruction efforts following the Great East Japan Earthquake. In 2020, he transferred to Kikuchi City Hall in Kumamoto Prefecture, where he developed an action plan to promote efforts toward achieving the SDGs. Afterward, he returned to the MoF as Deputy Director of the Office of Individual Issue Coordination of Government Assets. From 2022 to 2024, he managed individual government asset issues and handled administrative lawsuits. While at APARC, he will be researching the role financial institutions can play in the transition towards a sustainable society in Japan.