Date of birth: July 19, 1953

LDP faction: Ibuki

Electoral district: Lower House; Hokkaido No. 11 (eighth term)

Nakagawa has Taro Aso's trust and both share a hawkish political credo.

Following the death of his father, a former agriculture minister, Nakagawa won election to the Lower House for the first time in 1983 at age 30. Since then, he has held prominent portfolios both in the Cabinet and LDP, including farm and trade ministers.

Nakagawa is no stranger to controversy. In 2006, he caused an uproar by stating that Japan should debate whether to acquire nuclear weapons in response to nuclear weapon and missile tests by North Korea.

As trade minister, Nakagawa promoted the pursuit of free-trade pacts. As farm minister, he dismissed U.S. arguments for relaxing foodsafety criteria for importing its beef.