Date of birth: Feb. 26, 1949

Party: Democratic Party of Japan

Electoral district: Lower House; Tokyo No. 1 (fifth term)

The state minister in charge of economic and fiscal policy since September, Kaieda stays on but now heads METI.

A former economist, Kaieda, like Kan, supports Japan's entry into the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, despite internal disagreement over the free-trade accord.

Kaieda entered national politics in 1993 with Japan New Party, led by Morihiro Hosokawa. In 1996, he joined the first DPJ formed by Yukio Hatoyama and Kan. However, Kaieda supported party kingpin Ichiro Ozawa for DPJ president in September.

Kaieda lost his Lower House seat in 2005 but returned by beating Kaoru Yosano, who is taking over his previous Cabinet post. A Keio University graduate, Kaieda is knowledgeable in Chinese poetry.

*Appointed to take over duties of Akihiro Ohata Jan. 14, 2011.