Okada named No. 2

Katsuya Okada, the new secretary general of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan, is known as an expert on foreign affairs and other policy matters, but he is often described as "fundamentalist" for the tenacity with which he sticks to his beliefs.

Although he is something of a maverick in the 12-year-old party and had hoped to stay on as foreign minister, the 57-year-old Okada will need to bring unity to the party split by Tuesday's leadership election.

In announcing his acceptance of the party's No. 2 post offered by Prime Minister Naoto Kan, he said it was "heaven's will." He backed the prime minister in Tuesday's contest, in which Kan was re-elected DPJ leader by a narrow majority in terms of votes from fellow Diet members.