Date of birth: Aug. 27, 1949

LDP faction: Yamasaki

Electoral district: Lower House; Kanagawa No. 13 (eighth term)

Amari has been a strong supporter of Taro Aso. When Yasuo Fukuda ran for the LDP presidency last year, Amari backed Aso even though his faction decided to support Fukuda. In the latest presidential race, Amari was one of the requisite 20 Diet members who endorsed Aso's bid.

After graduating from Keio University, Amari worked at Sony Corp. for 2 1/2 years but later became a secretary to his father, a Lower House member. Amari was first elected to the Lower House in 1983, taking over from his father who decided to retire from politics.

Amari gained his first Cabinet post in 1998 as labor minister. He served as trade minister under Shinzo Abe and Fukuda, tackling the rise in crude oil prices. He loves art and science fiction movies.