Koizumi exceeded expectations as defense minister. Will he stay on?
The defense minister has enjoyed a relatively successful outing, maintaining public visibility, avoiding gaffes and representing Japan in security engagements globally.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is poised to reshuffle her Cabinet in the coming month, with the decision of whether to retain Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi hanging in the balance. The son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, Shinjiro has performed well in his role, maintaining public visibility, staying clear of controversies, and representing Japan on the international stage.
However, Takaichi is looking to shake up the Cabinet due to mounting discontent within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. As of now, it remains uncertain whether Koizumi will remain in his position, take on a different role, or depart from the Cabinet altogether. Koizumi maintains a strong position as a leading contender within the LDP; he secured the defense minister role after coming in second in the LDP leadership race, narrowly missing out on the top job to Takaichi.
Written by urgent.news from Japan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
