Takaichi seen retaining foreign, defense and finance ministers in Cabinet reshuffle

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is considering keeping Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama in their posts in a Cabinet reshuffle expected for mid-September, sources in the administration said Saturday.

Takaichi plans to retain key members of her Cabinet and the leadership team of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, which she leads. She apparently believes that it is necessary to retain Motegi and Katayama from the standpoint of policy continuation in the foreign affairs and finance arenas.

In the LDP leadership election last October, Motegi lost in the first round and backed Takaichi in the runoff. He has actively visited foreign countries since being appointed top diplomat under the Takaichi administration and met with his U.S. counterpart, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a number of times as part of Tokyo’s efforts to build rapport with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Motegi retains a certain level of support within the LDP, especially among members of a disbanded intraparty faction he had led. He is on good terms with LDP Vice President Taro Aso, a key backer of the Takaichi administration, who is also seen keeping his position.

Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi (center) attends a meeting in Tomasov, near Bratislava, Slovakia, on Tuesday. | AFP-JIJI

Takaichi is believed to be trying to shore up her power base for her potential bid to be reelected LDP president in next year’s party leadership race.

Katayama is deeply trusted by the prime minister and is a champion of the administration’s signature proactive yet responsible fiscal policy. Takaichi plans to entrust her with handling issues related to parliamentary deliberations on a planned bill to cut the consumption tax rate on food during an upcoming extraordinary session that may be convened in early October.

Takaichi is considering carrying out the Cabinet and LDP leadership shake-ups on Sept. 16-18 at the earliest. LDP Secretary-General Shunichi Suzuki and Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara are also likely to be retained.