Takaichi Keeps Foreign, Defence and Finance Ministers in First Cabinet Shuffle
Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi retained her foreign, defence and finance ministers in her first cabinet shuffle, keeping key allies in place.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi carried out her first cabinet reshuffle on Thursday, keeping the foreign, defence and finance ministers in their posts as she seeks to consolidate her position after nearly a year in office.
The changes were announced by Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara, who confirmed that he would remain in his own role. The lineup retains Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, a decision seen as preserving continuity in diplomacy and security policy.
Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama, a long-standing confidante of the prime minister, also stays on and is expected to press ahead with Takaichi's spending plans. The economic team remains largely intact as Tokyo faces external pressure over investment and currency policy.
Both Motegi and Koizumi are among Takaichi's main rivals for party leadership. Their retention is viewed as an effort to contain internal competition while she pursues her goal of remaining in power for another year and beyond.
Other appointments announced by Kihara include Hisayuki Fujii at internal affairs and communications, Takashi Yamashita at justice, Yoshihiro Seki at education, Kenichiro Ueno at health, labour and welfare, and Kazoo Yana at agriculture, forestry and fisheries. Ryosei Akazawa takes the economy, trade and industry portfolio, while Tatsunori Ibayashi handles land, infrastructure, transport and tourism.
Hiroyoshi Sasagawa becomes environment minister, Toshiharu Furukawa takes the digital portfolio, and Goshi Hosono is reconstruction minister. Yasuhiro Hanashi holds the national public safety commission and disaster management role. Hiroshi Nakatsuka of Nippon Ishin No Kai becomes minister of state for regulatory reform, with Minoru Kiuchi at growth strategy and Kimi Onoda at economic security.
Maintaining stable ties with Washington is a priority for the government as it manages strained relations with China and prepares for likely demands from US President Donald Trump for higher defence spending, more investment in America and measures to address a weak yen.