Date of birth: Nov. 28, 1945

LDP faction: Ibuki

Electoral district: Upper House; Gunma Prefecture (fourth term)

Nakasone, 62, the eldest son of former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, previously served as education minister in 1999.

After 15 years with major chemical firm Asahi Kasei Corp., Nakasone embarked on his political career in 1983 as a secretary to his father when he was prime minister.

In 1986, he ran for and won an Upper House seat while his father was still the prime minister.

In August 2005, Nakasone came out against the postal privatization bill shortly before the Upper House voted on it, effectively ensuring its defeat in that chamber.

In his fourth term in the House of Councilors, he worked on compiling the LDP's draft constitutional amendment and helped to revise the basic education law.

He majored in business at Keio University, where he played field hockey. His hobbies are sports and reading.