Date of birth: Nov. 5, 1945

Party: Kokumin Shinto

Electoral district: Upper House; proportional representation (first term)

One of the few politicians with a medical background, Jimi is a 1977 graduate of the department of medicine of Kyushu University in Fukuoka Prefecture. He has also spent time at Harvard University as a researcher.

Jimi has worked strenuously to revise the organ transplant and health insurance laws, and establish nursing care insurance.

Born into a political family, he won a Lower House seat for the first time in 1983, defeating better known candidates in his Fukuoka district.

A Fukuoka native, Jimi also worked on the budget for New Kitakyushu Airport to help revitalize the city. He is the only Cabinet member from DPJ coalition partner Kokumin Shinto (People's New Party).