Japan's Takaichi carries out first cabinet reshuffle with few changes

Tokyo — Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi maintained her principal cabinet officials on Thursday during a reshuffle aimed at strengthening her ruling coalition and pushing a food tax reduction, despite worries about financing the initiative. Cabinet reshuffles in Japan are common, serving to rejuvenate the government's public image and allocate ministerial positions to loyal supporters and seasoned lawmakers from the same political party.

However, Prime Minister Takaichi, who has garnered remarkably high approval ratings nearly a year into her tenure, retained the core members of her team, as disclosed by her chief of staff and top government spokesman, Minoru Kihara. These officials consist of Kihara himself, Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, and Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi.

Additionally, Takaichi kept crucial economic ministers, including Trade and Industry Minister Ryosei Akazawa, who has spearheaded Japan's tariff discussions with the United States, and Economic Growth Strategy Minister Minoru Kiuchi, a proponent of proactive fiscal spending. Under Finance Minister Katayama, Japan has consistently engaged in various economic endeavors.