Date of birth: May 3, 1948

Party: DPJ

Electoral district: Lower House; Aichi No. 5 (seventh term)

Born into a Socialist politician's family, Akamatsu was groomed for politics and entered the field at a young age.

After working at major transport company Nippon Express, Akamatsu was elected to the Aichi Prefectural Assembly at age 30.

Once acquainted with politics at the local level, Akamatsu stepped onto the national stage 11 years later. He won a Diet seat as a member of the Social Democratic Party of Japan (the predecessor of the SDP), and surprised many when he was later appointed to an executive post in the party at age 45.

After the SDPJ split up in 1996, Akamatsu joined the DPJ, where he has served in a number of senior posts, including that of election affairs chief.