Major events in Shinzo Abe's career:

Sept. 21, 1954 -- Born in Tokyo; second son of Shintaro and Yoko Abe

March 1977 -- Graduates from the department of political science in the Faculty of Law at Seikei University in Tokyo and goes on to study politics at the University of Southern California

April 1979 -- Starts working at Kobe Steel Ltd.

November 1982 -- Leaves Kobe steel and becomes executive assistant to his father, who is foreign minister.

May 1991 -- Father dies.

July 1993 -- Wins his first House of Representatives seat, running for the Liberal Democratic Party in his father's constituency in Yamaguchi Prefecture

July 2000 -- Becomes deputy chief Cabinet secretary in the second Cabinet of Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori.

April 2001 -- Remains deputy chief Cabinet secretary in Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's first Cabinet.

September 2003 -- Becomes LDP secretary general.

September 2004 -- Becomes acting LDP secretary general.

September 2005 -- Wins fifth term in Lower House.

October 2005 -- Becomes a Cabinet member for the first time as chief Cabinet secretary in Koizumi's third Cabinet.

Sept. 1, 2006 -- As expected, announces he will run in the LDP presidential election.

Sept. 20, 2006 -- Wins the LDP election, beating Foreign Minister Taro Aso and Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki.


See related links:


Abe must bring both vision, pragmatism to the job
-- By YASUHIRO NAKASONE

Abe takes helm of LDP, vows to stick with reforms
-- By HIROKO NAKATA

LDP election broke with norm
-- By MASAMI ITO

Public gives mixed reactions to Abe's win
-- By JUN HONGO

Abe wants NSC-style body, extra advisers to boost agility of Cabinet
-- By HIROKO NAKATA

Mr. Abe's worrisome plan for Japan