Who is Japan’s Yoshihide Suga? ----------------------------------- Yoshihide Suga, 71, a longtime aide to outgoing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, is heavily favoured to win the ruling party’s leadership race after securing the backing of its most powerful factions ----------------------------------- Son of strawberry grower in rural Akita prefecture, Suga is self-made politician – rarity in Japan’s largely hereditary business of politics ----------------------------------- Paid his own way through university by working part-time, before launching career as city assembly member in Yokohama, outside Tokyo ----------------------------------- Master of behind-the-scenes politics, has been central figure in Abe’s government as chief cabinet secretary for past eight years ----------------------------------- Expected to stay policy course set out by Abe, maintaining “Abenomics” strategy aimed at reviving economy and keeping post-pandemic fiscal stimulus ----------------------------------- Suga earned nickname “Uncle Reiwa” after unveiling new imperial era name “Reiwa” for Emperor Naruhito last year ----------------------------------- Known as workaholic, Suga does 100 sit-ups and takes 40-minute walk every morning ----------------------------------- Strong promoter of tourism as way to drive local economies, he also favours re-opening economy over tighter pandemic restrictions ----------------------------------- Suga has said Japan would do “whatever it takes” to ensure it could host Olympics next year ----------------------------------- Sources: Nikkei, Reuters, AP Picture: Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS