Date of birth: May 31, 1964

Party: Democratic Party of Japan

Electoral district: Lower House; Saitama No. 5 (sixth term)

Edano, a lawyer known for his debating skills, served as the top spokesman for the Cabinet led by Prime Minister Naoto Kan during the reactor meltdown crisis that started March 11.

He received plaudits from the public for his composure at news conferences amid the nuclear crisis. As a former policy chief for the ruling Democratic Party of Japan, Edano is considered a policy maven.

A law graduate of Tohoku University, Edano entered politics in 1993 in Japan New Party, then joined New Party Sakigake. He backed Kan as health minister when he exposed the HIV tainted-blood debacle in 1996 and recognized the state's culpability.

*Appointed to take over duties of Yoshio Hachiro (Economy, Trade and Industry Minister) after his resignation September 10, 2011.