Date of birth: June 10, 1950

Party: DPJ

Electoral district: Lower House; Mie No. 2 (fifth term)

Nakagawa was a senior vice education minister under Yukio Hatoyama's Cabinet and Naoto Kan's first Cabinet.

During those stints he aimed to make Japanese-language education policy for foreigners more effective.

Nakagawa made his debut in national politics in 1996 when he won a Lower House seat as a member of the now-defunct Shin shin to (New Frontier Party).

Before entering Diet, he served in the Mie Prefectural Assembly for 12 years.

After studying at Georgetown University in the United States, Nakagawa went on to work for the Japan Foundation, a government-affiliated body that promotes Japanese culture overseas.

Nakagawa enjoys mountainclimbing, reading books, fishing and watching movies.