Tokyo, Sept. 17 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi launched her reshuffled cabinet Thursday after the attestation of the appointed ministers by Emperor Naruhito at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. Takaichi, 65, also president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, kept major ministers in their posts, such as Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara, 57, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, 70, Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama, 67, and Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, 45. Carrying out her first cabinet reshuffle since she took office in October 2025, Takaichi emphasized the need to ensure continuity in order to implement important policies. Former internal affairs minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, 65, who competed against Takaichi in the LDP presidential election last year, was not reappointed. Seven ministers became cabinet members for the first time. From among those involved in the LDP’s political fund scandal, Takaichi named former State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yoshihiro Seki, 61, as education, culture, sports, science and technology minister, and former State Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Kazuo Yana, 47, as agriculture, forestry and fisheries minister. This marks the first appointments of lawmakers linked to the scandal to cabinet posts. Former State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hisayuki Fujii, 55, was named as internal affairs and communications minister, former State Minister of the Cabinet Office Tatsunori Ibayashi, 50, as minister of land, infrastructure, transport and tourism, and Toshiharu Furukawa, 63, a member of the Senate, previously called the House of Councillors, as minister for digital transformation. Former State Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Hiroyoshi Sasagawa, 60, became environment minister. He will also be in charge of measures to address wild bear issues. From the Japan Innovation Party, the LDP’s coalition partner, Takaichi picked Hiroshi Nakatsuka, 70, former JIP secretary-general, as minister for regulatory reform. The JIP has upgraded its cooperation with the LDP by joining the cabinet. The prime minister also brought back several former ministers. Of them, former Justice Minister Takashi Yamashita, 61, will serve in that post again, while former Justice Minister Yasuhiro Hanashi, 66, became chair of the National Public Safety Commission. Former Environment Minister Goshi Hosono, 55, was named reconstruction minister. New internal affairs minister Fujii will also take charge of affairs related to regional revitalization and the government’s plan to create a secondary capital that can serve as a backup of Tokyo. Reconstruction minister Hosono will also cover disaster reduction, while digital transformation minister Furukawa will manage artificial intelligence strategy. Finance Minister Katayama will be in charge of legislation to implement the government’s plan to cut the consumption tax rate for food items to 1 pct from 8 pct for two years. Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kei Sato was replaced by former State Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications Yusuke Nakanishi, 47, a senator belonging to the LDP faction led by former Prime Minister Taro Aso. Takaichi met with JIP co-head Fumitake Fujita at the prime minister’s office before announcing the reshuffled cabinet. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
