Tokyo, 10 August, /AJMEDIA/
Here are the profiles of members of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s new Cabinet:
Kishida, a known quantity in diplomacy, a self-claimed good listener
Soft-spoken Prime Minister Fumio Kishida secured the current post at his second attempt and has navigated Japan through what he described as “historic” challenges posed by COVID-19 and Russia’s war against Ukraine for the past 10 months in office.
Kishida, 65, has touted his ability to listen attentively to various opinions as a decision-maker, having served as policy chief of the Liberal Democratic Party. As foreign minister under former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, he helped realize a visit by then U.S. President Barack Obama to the atomic-bombed city of Hiroshima in 2016.
Kishida, a liberal-leaning politician in the conservative LDP, had been seen as a potential successor to Japan’s longest-serving premier Abe but lost to Yoshihide Suga in the party leadership race in 2020. The third-generation politician was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1993 after working as a banker.
Education expert Matsuno is mild-mannered, guardian of Kishida gov’t
Hirokazu Matsuno, who is staying on as chief Cabinet secretary, has placed priority on education issues during his political career.
Prior to becoming the top government spokesman, the mild-mannered Matsuno, 59, also assisted Prime Minister Fumio Kishida when he headed the Policy Research Council of the Liberal Democratic Party. The House of Representatives lawmaker belongs to an LDP faction led by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who picked him as education minister.
Matsuno was elected to the lower house in 2000 after studying at the Matsushita Institute of Government and Management, known as an incubator for young people aspiring to pursue political careers. Drawing on his advertisement experience in the private sector, he helped create government video clips, including one calling for COVID-19 vaccinations among young people.
Harvard-educated Foreign Minister Hayashi touted as future PM
Harvard-educated Yoshimasa Hayashi, retained as foreign minister and belonging to a ruling Liberal Democratic Party faction led by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, is touted as a potential candidate for Japan’s future leader.
Hayashi won a single-seat district in the western prefecture of Yamaguchi in the 2021 House of Representatives election after serving as a member of the House of Councillors for 26 years since 1995. He had held many other key positions such as defense, agriculture and education ministers.
The 61-year-old enjoys playing instruments, including guitar and keyboards. He gave an impromptu piano rendition of John Lennon’s “Imagine” during a dinner party of Group of Seven major developed nations’ foreign ministerial meeting in Liverpool, England, in December last year.
New METI chief Nishimura known for fight against COVID-19
Yasutoshi Nishimura, the new minister of economy, trade and industry, is known for having played a key role in Japan’s fight against the novel coronavirus as a member of the Cabinet of former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.
A former official at what is now the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Nishimura has also served as economic revitalization minister. He is a senior member of the Liberal Democratic Party’s largest faction once led by the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Nishimura, 59, a seven-term House of Representatives member from Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan, ran in an LDP presidential race in 2009, when the party was not in power. But he was defeated by Sadakazu Tanigaki, a former finance minister.
Retained Finance Minister Suzuki builds good ties with Kishida
Shunichi Suzuki, retained as finance minister, has built good relations with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida as he backed Kishida in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s presidential race in 2021.
Suzuki’s father, the late former Prime Minister Zenko Suzuki, once led what is now Kishida’s faction, the fourth biggest in the LDP, while Suzuki himself is a member of the LDP’s third-largest faction led by Taro Aso, a former prime minister who is his brother-in-law.
Suzuki, a 69-year-old veteran representing a constituency in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, won his first House of Representatives seat in 1990 and served as environment minister, minister in charge of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, and chairman of the LDP’s General Council.
New Defense Minister Hamada back in post after 13-yr hiatus
New Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada, a 10th-term House of Representatives member who is versed in security policies, returned to the post that he held for about a year until September 2009.
Hamada, 66, was first elected to the lower house from a constituency in Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo, in 1993. Before that, he served as a secretary to his father, the late former lower house lawmaker Koichi Hamada, known as “Hamako” as he often caused a commotion through his words and actions.
Hamada is a vocalist in a band named “Gi!nz” which he created with three fellow lawmakers, including Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi. The band plays at charity concerts and other events.
Kato, ex-gov’t spokesman, returns to post as health minister
Katsunobu Kato brings with him experience as health minister as he returns to his former post to face the challenges of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
The 66-year-old Tokyo native served as chief Cabinet secretary in the previous administration of Yoshihide Suga after working as minister of health, labor and welfare in the Cabinet of his predecessor Shinzo Abe twice.
The House of Representatives member was elected from a constituency in Okayama Prefecture in western Japan. He has held other ministerial posts, including those in charge of tackling the issue of North Korea’s abductions of Japanese nationals as well as promoting women’s empowerment.
Agriculture minister Nomura has 35 yrs experience at farm cooperative
Tetsuro Nomura, appointed as minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries in his first Cabinet post, is an expert on agricultural policy with around 35 years of experience at a farming cooperative.
After being elected to the House of Councillors in 2004, Nomura has also served as the parliamentary vice minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, and the chair of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s agricultural and forestry division.
The 78-year-old spoke out on behalf of farmers when the administration of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe promoted agricultural cooperative reform as part of its growth strategy.
