Date of birth: Dec. 6, 1948

Party: LDP

Electoral district: Lower House; Kanagawa No. 2 (sixth term)

As one of Shinzo Abe's most trusted allies, Suga was a key supporter during his 2006 run for the LDP presidency, which vaulted him into the prime minister's chair.

Suga served as internal affairs minister from 2006 to 2007 in Abe's first Cabinet, after entering the Diet in 1996.

Born in Akita Prefecture, Suga was a factory worker in Tokyo before attending Hosei University. He later became secretary to then-Lower House lawmaker Hikozaburo Okonogi, serving him for 11 years.

Under the wing of LDP heavyweights Taro Aso and Abe, Suga filled a number of key party positions despite his relative inexperience as a lawmaker, which reportedly triggered jealousy among some LDP members.

Abe has held many meetings with Suga since the Dec. 16 election to discuss the Cabinet lineup, among other matters.