Monday, Apr. 04, 2011
Naoto Kan
Age: 64
Occupation: Prime Minister of Japan
Previous TIME 100 appearances: 0
Even before Japan was devastated by a succession of disasters, Prime Minister Naoto Kan was vulnerable, his administration dogged by funding scandals and a wilting economy. During the recent crises, he has called for calm and pledged to guide the island nation in a reconstruction effort of postwar proportions. But popular criticism of Kan's low public profile and sluggish emergency response leaves doubt as to whether Japan's latest leader will recover with his country.