| July 14, 1953 | Born in the city of Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture, Japan |
| March 1976 | Graduated from Faculty of Law, the University of Tokyo |
| April 1976 | Entered the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI; now the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry [METI]) |
| June 1985 | Dispatched by MITI to Harvard University's Center for International Affairs for one year |
| July 1988 | Resigned from MITI |
| February 1990 | Elected to the House of Representatives for the first time as a Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) member |
| June 1993 | Voted to support the motion of no confidence against the Miyazawa Cabinet and seceded the LDP |
| December 1994 | Helped to constructively dissolve the Japan Renewal Party and found the New Frontier Party (Shinshinto) |
| April 1998 | Participated in the founding of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) |
| May 2004 | Assumed the presidency of the DPJ |
| September 2005 | Resigned the presidency of the DPJ after the party suffered a setback in the general election where he challenged Prime Minister Koizumi |
| September 2006 | Assumed the vice-presidency of the DPJ |
| May 2009 | Once again assumed the position of DPJ Secretary General |
| September 2009 | Assumed the position of Minister for Foreign Affairs
(Hatoyama Cabinet) |
| June 2010 | Reassumed the position of Minister for Foreign Affairs
(Kan Cabinet) |
