
Taira Masaaki
平将明
Member of the House of Representatives (Liberal Democratic Party)
About
Taira Masaaki was born in Tokyo in 1967 and graduated from the Faculty of Law at Waseda University in 1989. He joined his family's produce wholesale business at the Ota market in 1991 and became its third-generation president in 1996. He was first elected to the House of Representatives for Tokyo's 4th district in 2005 and is now in his eighth term.
He served as Minister for Digital Transformation and Minister for Regulatory Reform from 1 October 2024 to 21 October 2025, in both Ishiba cabinets. Earlier posts include Senior Vice-Minister of the Cabinet Office and Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. In October 2025 he became acting head of the LDP Digital Society Promotion Headquarters and chair of its AI and Web3 Subcommittee. He is also deputy chair of the party's project team on next-generation AI and on-chain finance.
As chair of the LDP web3 project team, he led the party's annual web3 white papers. The 2024 edition, adopted on 12 April 2024, called for separate taxation of crypto trading gains, a three-year loss carry-forward, a review of the 2x leverage cap and a re-examination of the ban on spot crypto ETFs. In May 2026 the on-chain finance project team he helped set up issued proposals on stablecoins, tokenised deposits and the tokenisation of receivables, real estate and securities.
Policy engagement
Led the LDP web3 project team behind the party's web3 white papers and crypto tax reform push. Former Minister for Digital Transformation; since October 2025 heads the LDP AI and Web3 subcommittee.
Key actions
Described a late-August 2026 US visit covering the SEC, CFTC, US Treasury, Circle and JPMorgan, and said Japan's on-chain finance direction had been confirmed.
SourceProposals from the LDP next-generation AI and on-chain finance project team, where he is deputy chair, were approved by the party's Policy Research Council.
SourceAppointed chair of the LDP AI and Web3 Subcommittee and acting head of the Digital Society Promotion Headquarters.
SourceAppointed Minister for Digital Transformation and Minister for Regulatory Reform in the Ishiba cabinet.
SourceAs chair of the LDP web3 project team, released the web3 White Paper 2024 calling for separate taxation of crypto gains.
Source
Also in Japan
Shiozaki AkihisaSenior Vice-Minister for Digital Transformation; LDP lower-house member- KSKatayama SatsukiMinister of Finance and Minister of State for Financial Services
Morishita TetsuoProfessor of Law, Sophia University
Japan Virtual and Crypto assets Exchange Association (JVCEA)Certified self-regulatory organisation for Japanese crypto exchanges
Japan Cryptoasset Business Association (JCBA)Crypto and web3 industry association
Japan Blockchain Association (JBA)Blockchain and crypto industry association