Takaichi Seen Adding 1 JIP Member to Cabinet in Reshuffle

Tokyo, Sept. 8 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is considering appointing one member of the Japan Innovation Party, the coalition partner of her ruling Liberal Democratic Party, to her cabinet when she reshuffles it as early as Sept. 16, government sources said Tuesday. A JIP member is likely to be appointed internal affairs minister or minister of state for regulatory reform, with the final decision expected to reflect the wishes of the JIP. A senior government official hinted at the possibility of the planned cabinet reshuffle taking place on Sept. 17. The JIP is set to shift from its current cooperation with the Takaichi government from outside the cabinet to cooperation from within the cabinet, with a party member taking a ministerial post. The JIP has remained outside the cabinet since the Takaichi administration was launched in October last year. Possible JIP members being floated to join the Takaichi cabinet include former party leader Nobuyuki Baba, current co-leader Fumitake Fujita and Secretary-General Hiroshi Nakatsuka, people familiar with the matter said. “We will fulfill the JIP’s role as the gas pedal” for reform in the ruling coalition, JIP leader and Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura told reporters Tuesday regarding the planned cabinet reshuffle, saying he would discuss the matter with the prime minister. Under past governments formed by the LDP and Komeito, which is now an opposition party, only one Komeito lawmaker was appointed to the coalition government. LDP executives voted Tuesday to leave decisions regarding the selection of the party leadership team up to Takaichi. The prime minister is expected to reshuffle the LDP’s executive lineup as early as Sept. 16, after her government adopts the fiscal 2027 tax system reform package, including a plan to lower the consumption tax rate on food, at a cabinet meeting on Sept. 15. There is also a plan to reshuffle the cabinet on Sept. 16, but a high-ranking government official said, “It is not customary to reshuffle the cabinet at the same time,” referring to the possibility that the cabinet reshuffle will be delayed until the day after the reshuffle of the LDP’s executive lineup. Meanwhile, Takaichi is considering convening an extraordinary session of the Diet, Japan’s parliament, during the week beginning Oct. 5. She is expected to maintain the core of her administration, in a bid to solidify her foundation ahead of the party leadership election next September. The prime minister is planning to retain Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara, LDP Vice President Taro Aso and Secretary-General Shunichi Suzuki. She is also considering retaining LDP policy chief Takayuki Kobayashi in his post. The prime minister is expected to appoint state ministers and parliamentary vice ministers by Sept. 18. The JIP is expected to occupy two state minister posts and three parliamentary vice minister posts. Takaichi told Tuesday’s meeting of LDP executives that she read all the responses in a questionnaire about position preferences conducted late last month among party members in the House of Representatives, the lower Diet chamber. “I was once again impressed by the wealth of talent within the party,” she said. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]