Ms. Noda was born in Fukuoka Prefecture in 1960. She graduated from the Department of Comparative Culture, Faculty of Foreign Studies, Sophia University. After joining the Imperial Hotel, she became the first female salesperson within the company’s International Sales Department. Inspired by her grandfather’s political career, Ms. Noda moved to Gifu Prefecture and launched her own election campaign in 1986. She was elected to the Gifu Prefectural Assembly in 1987. In 1993 she was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time. Since then, she has won nine consecutive elections. Ms. Noda has served numerous roles, including Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Minister of State for Special Missions, and Chairperson of the General Council of the LDP. She currently serves as Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications, Minister in charge of Women’s Empowerment, and Minister of State for the Social Security and Tax Number System. She spoke at the 17th and 21st International Conference for Women in Business. In 2011, Ms. Noda gave birth for the first time at the age of 50, after receiving a donor egg in the U.S.