Date of birth: July 14, 1953

Party: Democratic Party of Japan

Electoral district: Lower House; Mie No. 3 (seventh term)

Well-versed in policy affairs, this former DPJ president and foreign minister also doubles as deputy prime minister.

Okada advocates raising the consumption tax to cover snowballing health care costs. As DPJ secretary general, he pushed for suspending the membership of party kingpin Ichiro Ozawa, who is on trial for alleged falsification of political funds reports. Okada's appointment could exacerbate the pro- and anti-Ozawa turmoil dividing the party.

After entering the Lower House with the Liberal Democratic Party in 1990, Okada joined the DPJ in 1998.

Often called a "policy fundamentalist," Okada is known for being stubborn and unwilling to compromise.