Date of birth: Aug. 21, 1971

Party: DPJ

Electoral district: Lower House; Shizuoka No. 5 (fourth term)

Reappointed to the position created in late June, Ho so no has been the prime conduit between the government and Tepco in dealing with the Fukushima nuclear crisis. He also becomes environment minister, the ministry that will soon be responsible for regulating nuclear plants.

Over the past two months he also doubled as state minister in charge of consumer affairs. Before becoming state minister, Ho so no was a special adviser under ex-Prime Minister Naoto Kan.

A Kyoto University graduate, Hosono entered the Lower House in 2000 at age 28. He was known as one of the DPJ's bright young stars and in the Diet posed tough questions against the previous LDP-led government.