On Wednesday, Yoko Kamikawa became minister again. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida brought her back into the government team in his latest cabinet reshuffle, routinely, it seemed. The lower house representative Kamikawa, 70, a quiet, not particularly conspicuous regular member of the right-wing conservative ruling party LDP, has often been a minister, including head of the justice department three times. She knows the processes. Appointment in the Imperial Palace, team photo in the Prime Minister’s Office, move to the new office.
Still, the promotion was a little different this time. After decades in domestic politics, Kishida had chosen the Foreign Ministry for her this time. “I will be on the world stage,” stated Yoko Kamikawa, “the excitement is different than in the past, and it is very high.”
Government reshuffles in Japan rarely represent real policy changes
Cabinet reshuffles occur relatively often in Japan. This is the third term in Kishida’s term, which began in October 2021, the most recent being from August 2022. These castlings are rarely really about a change in policy. They are more of a stylistic device that heads of government use to keep their own people in line, better integrate critical party wings or reward loyal veterans. To the outside world, the cabinet reshuffle should of course appear as if the prime minister and LDP president is determined to improve. Kishida’s poll numbers haven’t been good recently. He therefore reassigned eleven of the 19 ministerial posts. He spoke of “new colors” and showed more willingness for equality by nominating five women instead of just two like last time.
Making Yoko Kamikawa foreign minister is probably not the worst idea. Decades ago she studied at Harvard and was once an employee of the Democratic Senator Max Baucus in the USA. Her English is good, which is why she has repeatedly represented Japan’s government at international events. She also belongs to the faction within the LDP that Kishida himself leads and is therefore likely to share his moderate, anti-nuclear worldview. Other main characters in a fresh momentum? Perhaps Children’s Policy Minister Ayuko Kato, at 44 the youngest in the new cabinet. Or Yuko Obuchi, 49, daughter of former Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi. The cabinet reshuffle also included slight changes in the LDP leadership. In the future, Obuchi will be the campaign manager.
But overall the changes only exuded an artificial determination. An important reason for the poor survey results is the failure to introduce the My Number card for digital citizen administration. But the responsible minister, Taro Kono, retained his post. After just one year, Kishida surprisingly replaced Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada – the very head of department who has to implement Japan’s expensive new security strategy. Nothing is known of Hamada’s major errors. His successor is the 54-year-old LDP security expert Minoru Kihara, who is not only a proven Taiwan friend, but was also probably close to the Unification Church; Last year, Kihara was criticized for accepting a donation of 100,000 yen, around 630 euros, from the sect in 2012.
“I’m nervous,” admitted the new education minister
And the old right retains their power in Kishida’s team. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno and Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura remain in their positions. Ex-Prime Minister Taro Aso, 82, remains LDP Vice President, ex-Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi remains LDP Secretary-General and ex-Economy Minister Koichi Hagiuda LDP chief strategist. Aso leads the second largest LDP faction, Motegi the third largest. And the trio Matsuno, Nishimura and Hagiuda are among the influential forces in the largest LDP faction, which has been struggling to find direction since the assassination of its leader and idol, ex-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. More than a year since Abe’s death in July 2022, there is a leadership body in the old Abe faction, but no undisputed leader. Kishida has to keep this in mind when assigning the tasks.
After all, Fumio Kishida also made people happy on Wednesday. Masahito Moriyama seemed particularly moved by the fact that he was promoted to cabinet for the first time. Moryama is 69 and has had a checkered political career. The fact that he was able to move up to the head position of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) in his old age made him “grateful”. But the promotion apparently also made him aware that the big task was new for him. “I’m nervous,” Masahito Moriyama admitted, “because I’m not familiar with MEXT management.”