Japan’s New PM Ishiba Unveils Cabinet Ahead of Snap Election

By John Geddie and Tim Kelly

TOKYO – Japan’s new Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba introduced his cabinet on Tuesday as he aims to mend party divisions and secure a national mandate with a snap election scheduled for October 27.

The 67-year-old former defense minister was officially confirmed as prime minister by parliament earlier in the day after winning a competitive race last week to lead the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

Ishiba is set to hold his first press conference later in the day in Tokyo. His administration’s approach to diplomacy, particularly with Japan’s closest ally, the United States, will be closely scrutinized, as he has voiced support for a more balanced relationship with Washington.

He has also suggested establishing an Asian version of NATO for collective security to counter China, a proposal that has faced skepticism from both Beijing and senior U.S. officials who deem it premature.

Ishiba faces the challenge of addressing public discontent over rising living costs and navigating the scandal-plagued status of his party, alongside a volatile security landscape in East Asia influenced by an assertive China and a nuclear-capable North Korea.

As a veteran lawmaker who is considered somewhat of an outsider, having previously lost four leadership contests, Ishiba has appointed a blend of rivals and allies to his cabinet. Key positions include Katsunobu Kato as finance minister and Yoshimasa Hayashi as chief cabinet secretary, a role that encompasses serving as the government’s primary spokesperson.

Kato’s appointment is significant given his experience in the previous administration under Shinzo Abe, which focused on expansive fiscal and monetary policies. The stock market reacted sharply following Ishiba’s victory, with a nearly 5% decline attributed to a strengthening yen, but rebounded on Tuesday.

A close ally of Ishiba, Takeshi Iwaya, will assume the role of foreign minister, while Gen Nakatani returns to the defense ministry. Yoji Muto, a former junior minister, will oversee the economy, trade, and industry.

In his victory speech, Ishiba emphasized the necessity of enhancing Japan’s security in light of recent territorial incursions by Chinese and Russian military vessels.

Despite his efforts to build a united cabinet, five lawmakers who ran against him for the leadership have not been appointed to key government or party positions. Among them is Sanae Takaichi, a conservative rival whom Ishiba defeated by a narrow margin, reportedly declining a senior role in the party.

This situation may complicate Ishiba’s ability to manage a divided party beset by scandals related to unreported donations during fundraising events. The leader of the largest opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, Yoshihiko Noda, has indicated plans to capitalize on these issues in the upcoming election.

Noda has stated, "We cannot establish proper governance through a pseudo-regime change," highlighting the challenges the LDP faces.

Nonetheless, the LDP is likely to maintain its grip on power in the upcoming election due to the fragmented state of Japan’s opposition. According to a recent poll, a third of respondents expressed support for the LDP, while only 15% backed Noda’s party. Additionally, more than half of those surveyed, including opposition supporters, expressed optimism regarding Ishiba’s leadership.