Yana’s exit halts crisis, but questions about Takaichi’s administration remain

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi attends the Lower House budget committee session at the parliament building in Tokyo on Wednesday. | REUTERS

Oct 15, 2026

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s decision to accept Kazuo Yana’s resignation as agriculture minister, after his involvement in two scandals and amid fears more would emerge, has addressed an immediate political need, but questions remain about her administration’s credibility and its approach to Cabinet appointments.

The prime minister appointed Lower House member Arata Takebe, who represents a Hokkaido district, as his replacement on Thursday.

“I’ve instructed Takebe to work on promoting agriculture, forestry and fisheries, realizing the development of rural and fishing villages, strengthening food security and strengthening agriculture, forestry and fisheries through the use of new technologies such as food tech — including plant factories, land-based aquaculture, and artificial intelligence analysis of satellite information,” Takaichi said when announcing his appointment.

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