Tokyo  - Taro Aso had a long-awaited birthday gift Monday, when he finally nailed down the top post of Japan's governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

Aso, a Roman Catholic who turned 68 Saturday, defined his new role as LDP leader and presumptive prime minister as his "calling" from up above.

His gusto to climb the political ladder may have been cultivated through sportsmanship and family roots.

Aso ran in the LDP presidential race four times since 2001, when he contended against Japan's charismatic premier Junichiro Koizumi, before he finally won the crown Monday.

Besides his athletic history of competing in sharpshooting in the 1976 Montreal Olympics and in the international competition, Aso continues to show his passion for sports by representing Japan's basketball group and sportfishing association as well as playing golf for fun.

After he graduated from Gakushuin University, which is known to be an alma mater of Japan's royal family, Aso studied at Stanford University in the US and the London School of Economics in the UK.

He then managed his father's company, Aso Cement Co, but soon left the responsibility to his younger brother, who demonstrated better aptitude for the business.

The first-born son of the Aso family knew where his roots were planted - in Japan's politics.

Aso has a family tree of politicians through five generations, including cousins, in-laws and immediate blood-relations from both his line and his wife's. His wife of 25 years, Chikako, is a daughter of former prime minister Zenko Suzuki. They have a son and a daughter.

Ever since he first became a politician, Aso served several ministerial positions, including foreign ministers and internal affairs and communications.

He shatters a classic image of a politician for openly admitting his love of Japanese manga comics and for speaking in a casual language, which has occasionally ended up producing controversial political remarks.

Among several books he has published, the one about his fondness for manga has became a best-seller, with more than 130,000 copies sold in three weeks.

Aso has confirmed his oft-used moniker of political hawk but said it means "someone who is determined to willingly sacrifice his life to defend the real peace and stability for the national interest of Japan."

When he is elected as Japan's prime minister Wednesday, he may have to sacrifice the 10-20 manga magazines he has been reading per week and, instead, devote his time to team Japan. (dpa)