Japanese Kishida Cabinet Deputy Minister Appointment... 30s Female Lawmaker as Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs

by Cha Minyoung

Published 06 Oct.2021 20:47(KST)

Japan Kyodo News Report on the 6th (Local Time)

The deputy minister appointments of the Kishida Fumio Japanese Cabinet were announced on the 6th (local time). The photo shows the new Japanese Prime Minister Kishida holding his first press conference after taking office.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Minyoung Cha] Deputy minister appointments in the Kishida Fumio Japanese Cabinet have been announced. An unusually young female lawmaker in her 30s was appointed as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

On the 6th (local time), Japan's Kyodo News reported that the Japanese government decided on deputy minister (vice minister) and political vice minister (vice minister-level) appointments for the Kishida Cabinet at an extraordinary Cabinet meeting held that afternoon.

Among the two Deputy Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Takako Suzuki, a three-term member of the House of Representatives and former NHK broadcaster, was selected. It is considered unusual for a female lawmaker in her 30s to be appointed as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. Suzuki is the only female lawmaker among all deputy ministers.

The other Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs appointed was Kiyoshi Odawara, a three-term member of the House of Representatives in his 50s.

Makoto Oniki, a three-term member of the House of Representatives, was appointed Deputy Minister of Defense (one position), while Norihiro Nakayama, a three-term member of the House of Representatives, and Takeyuki Watanabe, a two-term member of the House of Councillors, were appointed Deputy Ministers of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (two positions).

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno announced the list of 26 deputy ministers and 28 political vice ministers at a press conference following the Cabinet meeting.