Taro Aso, born in Iizuka, Fukuoka, in 1940, first entered politics in 1979, when he was elected to the Lower House. During his career, he has served as state minister in charge of economic and fiscal policy, foreign minister, minister of internal affairs and communications and twice as LDP secretary general.

Hailing from a wealthy Kyushuu family of political and corporate leaders, he is the grandson of former Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida and wife is the daughter of the late former Prime Minister Zenko Suzuki. His younger sister is married to Prince Tomohito of Mikasa, one of Emperor Akihito's cousins.

Aso graduated from Gakushuin University and has also studied at Stanford University and the London School of Economics.

In the foreign policy arena, Aso has maintained a hawkish stance, which has included support for the deployment of the Self-Defense Forces overseas. However, unlike his conservative peers, Aso has recently shunned visiting the controversial Yasukuni Shrine.

Aso has put priority on spending and tax cuts to stimulate the economy.

An avid reader and supporter of manga, Aso has attracting a strong following among young Japanese.

Aso failed three times in the past to become prime minister, losing the LDP presidential race to Junichiro Koizumi in 2001, Shinzo Abe in 2006 and Yasuo Fukuda in 2007.