CNA



 

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida replaced his defence and foreign ministers on Wednesday (Sep 13), while increasing the number of women in the cabinet, in a major reshuffle.

The replacement of the two key ministers, which came as North Korea fired two ballistic missiles and tensions with China rose, was motivated by internal party politics.

Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi was succeeded by former justice minister Yoko Kamikawa, 70, one of five women in the new cabinet, government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters.

Kamikawa was justice minister when Japan executed five years ago the leader and members of Aum Shinrikyo, sentenced to death for their role in the fatal 1995 sarin attack on the Tokyo subway.

 

Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada was succeeded by Minoru Kihara, 54, who previously served as parliamentary secretary of defence.
Shunichi Suzuki retains his position as finance minister in the world's third-largest economy.

Farm minister Tetsuro Nomura, who recently was accused of calling treated water released from the stricken Fukushima plant "contaminated water", was replaced by Ichiro Miyashita, 65.

Kishida, 66, took office in October 2021 but his poll ratings have dived as rising prices hit consumers.

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

His standing has also faltered within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), and he will have to stand for internal re-election next year.

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

Public support for his cabinet has been hit in recent months due to issues including the troubled new "My Number Card" identification system.