Naoto Kan

Naoto Kan (菅直人 Kan Naoto, born 10th October 1946) has been the Prime Minister of Japan since June 2010, having previously served as Finance Minister in the government of Yukio Hatoyama. He became prime minister as a result of winning the leadership of the governing Democratic Party of Japan at the same time. He subsequently won re-election as leader in September 2010 with strong backing from ordinary party members, while voting by party members in the National Diet of Japan and local assemblies produced a comfortable margin of victory.

Unlike many of his predecessors, Kan does not come from a political dynasty, nor is he a "hereditary candidate", i.e. the recipient of a parliamentary seat previously held by a relative. His early career was marked by involvement in grassroots movements.