Takaichi Opts for Stability in First Cabinet Reshuffle
Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae retained most of her senior ministers as she made her first changes to the cabinet since becoming Japan’s leader last year, choosing to emphasize policy continuity.
On September 17, 2026, Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae made her first cabinet reshuffle, emphasizing stability by retaining key figures. Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara Minoru and Finance Minister Katayama Satsuki remained in their positions. Motegi Toshimitsu and Koizumi Shinjirō, rivals during the 2025 Liberal Democratic Party leadership race, continued to serve as foreign minister and defense minister, respectively.
However, Hayashi Yoshimasa, another 2025 leadership contender, was replaced by Fujii Hisayuki, who entered the cabinet for the first time as minister of internal affairs and communications. Notably, Nakatsuka Hiroshi, representing the coalition partner Nippon Ishin no Kai, joined the cabinet as minister for regulatory reform. The prime minister's new team includes members aged 43 to 70 as of September 17, 2026, with Takaichi Sanae (65), Fujii Hisayuki (55), Yamashita Takashi (61), Motegi Toshimitsu (70), Katayama Satsuki (67), Seki Yoshihiro (61), Ueno Ken'ichirō (61), Akazawa Ryōsei (65), Ibayashi Tatsunori (50), Sasagawa Hiroshi (60), Koizumi Shinjirō (45), Kihara Minoru (57), Furukawa Toshiharu (63), Hosono Gōshi (55), Hanashi Yasuhiro (66), Kiuchi Minoru (61), Onoda Kimi (43), and Nakatsuka Hiroshi (70).
Written by urgent.news from Nippon.com's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
