Date of birth: Nov. 26, 1940

Party: Democratic Party of Japan

Electoral district: Lower House; Osaka No. 8 (11th term)

Nakano has served as vice speaker of the Lower House and secretary general of the DPJ. His first Cabinet stint will also include being in charge of North Korea abduction issues.

Nakano joined the Democratic Socialist Party in 1960 while at Kansai University, and was elected to the Toyonaka Municipal Assembly.

After winning a Lower House seat in 1976, he joined Shinshinto and later formed the New Fraternity Party, which merged with the DPJ.

Nakano holds a degree in law and is known as a strong promoter of local suffrage for permanent foreign residents in Japan.

Originally from Nagasaki Prefecture, Nakano lost his grandparents to the atomic bombing of the city.

*Appointed to take over duties of Tomiko Okazaki Jan. 14, 2011.