Date of birth: June 24, 1932

Party: DPJ

Electoral district: Lower House; South Kanto proportional representation (seventh term)

Fujii, 77, is the supreme adviser of the DPJ and known as an expert on the national budget and tax issues.

Fujii acted as the finance minister in the administrations of Morihiro Hosokawa and Tsutomu Hata from 1993 to 1994 . the only period that the long-dominant LDP was out of power.

After he lost his single-seat race in the 2005 Lower House election, Fujii decided to retire from politics, citing his age. However, he managed to secure a Diet seat two years later after two lawmakers on the DPJ’s proportional representation list above him quit.

In recent years, Fujii floated his retirement idea again but changed his mind only days before campaigning kicked off for the Aug. 30 election.

His move sparked speculation he might get a key Cabinet post in economic and financial matters.

Cabinet Interview (Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009) — Fujii promises to compile 2010 budget on time, overhaul or no