Japan PM replaces foreign, defence ministers in cabinet reshuffle

Japan’s struggling Prime Minister Fumio Kishida named new foreign and defence ministers yesterday in a major reshuffle that raised the number of women in the cabinet to five.

Kishida’s popularity and his standing within the ruling party have dived since he took office in October 2021, and many voters are not happy with his government’s handling of the world’s third-largest economy.

The 66-year-old will stand for re-election next year as president of the fractious Liberal Democratic Party, which has dominated politics for decades, and experts said the cabinet reshuffle was an attempt to shore up his approval ratings.

Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi was replaced by Yoko

Kamikawa, one of five women in the new cabinet, chief cabinet secretary and government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters.

Kamikawa, 70, is Japan’s first woman foreign minister in 19 years.

She was justice minister five years ago when Japan executed the leader and members of the Aum Shinrikyo cult for their role in the deadly 1995 sarin attack on the Tokyo subway.

Minoru Kihara, 54, succeeded Yasukazu Hamada as defence minister, just as Japan faces a rising threat from North Korea and deteriorating relations with China.

Public support for the Kishida government stood at just 36 per cent against 43 per cent for disapproval, according to a poll released Monday by national broadcaster NHK.

A majority of voters are not satisfied with the government’s policy to address inflation, according to a Yomiuri poll published last month.

Kishida said Sunday that he plans to “implement a bold economic package” to address the impact of rising prices on voters.

And he stuck with his economic team in the reshuffle.

Shunichi Suzuki stays as finance minister and Yasutoshi Nishimura retains the ministry of economy, trade and industry ministry.

Kishida’s flamboyant former rival Taro Kono remains in charge of digital affairs.