Motegi Foreign Minister and Kishi Defense Minister Retain Posts in Japan's Kishida Cabinet... 13 of 20 Members Join Cabinet for the First Time

Fumio Kishida Photo by EPA Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] On the afternoon of the 4th, in the newly launched Kishida Fumio (64) Cabinet, 13 out of the 20 ministers excluding the Prime Minister are entering the cabinet for the first time. However, among the first-time ministers, two, the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Chairman of the National Public Safety Commission, are in their 70s, which is expected to draw criticism for a lack of freshness in personnel appointments.

The Chief Cabinet Secretary, a key position in the administration, is appointed to Matsuno Hirokazu (59), former Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, who belongs to the Hosoda faction, the largest faction within the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) practically led by former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo. The new Minister of Finance is Suzuki Junichi (68), former Minister of the Environment and a member of the Aso Taro faction.

Abe’s younger brother, Kishi Nobuo (62), remains as Minister of Defense, and Motegi Toshimitsu (65), acting chairman of the Takeshita faction, continues as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Also, Hagiuda Koichi (58), known as a close aide to Abe, moves from Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology to Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. Noda Seiko (61), who competed with Kishida in the LDP presidential election, concurrently holds the ministerial post overseeing measures for low birthrate, regional revitalization, and women’s empowerment.

The newly established Minister for Economic Security is Kobayashi Takayuki (46), former Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Defense. The Minister of Digital Affairs is Makishima Karen (44), head of the party’s youth bureau, and the Minister in charge of the Olympics and vaccines is Horiuchi Noriko (55), former Minister of the Environment.

The Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare is Goto Shigeyuki (65), former Minister of Justice, and the Minister for Economic Revitalization is Yamagawa Daishiro (53), former Deputy Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.

The Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, a position allocated to the Komeito party which co-governs with the LDP, goes to Saito Tetsuo (69), former Minister of the Environment. Additionally, Kaneko Yasushi (60), former Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, is appointed Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications; Furukawa Yoshihisa (56), former Minister of Finance, is appointed Minister of Justice; Yamaguchi Tsuyoshi (67), former Minister of Foreign Affairs, is appointed Minister of the Environment; and Nishime Kosaburo (67), former Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, is appointed Minister for Reconstruction and in charge of Okinawa and Northern Territories. Wakamiya Kenji (60), former Minister of Defense, takes the post of Minister for the Expo.

Among the members of the House of Councillors, Suematsu Shinsuke (65), former Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, is appointed Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology; Kaneko Genjiro (77), former Budget Committee Chairman, is appointed Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; and Ninoyu Satoshi (77), former Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications, is appointed Chairman of the National Public Safety Commission.

Out of the 20 ministers, 13 are first-time appointees, and three are women. LDP President Kishida will be elected as the 100th Prime Minister in the nomination elections held separately in the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors this afternoon, after which he will launch the new cabinet.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.