Cabinet Refreshed

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reshuffles his Cabinet members and leaders of Liberal Democratic Party on Wednesday. Keeping his most reliable Ministers on his side, Abe picks new faces for various positions not to receive frustration of party members directly on him. The greatest purpose of his reshuffle now is to maintain his regime as long as possible.

The biggest news of reshuffling is not new members of Abe administration, but maintenance of backbone of it. Minister of Finance, Taro Aso, and Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga, has been in the central position of Abe Cabinet from the beginning in late 2012. Abe did not have any idea of replacing them.

Although some news media reported possibility of changing Minister of Foreign Affairs from Fumio Kishida to Tomomi Inada, an outstanding ultra-conservative with Abe’s hope for being new leader, Abe decided to keep Kishida to deal with complicated relationship between Japan and Russia or dispute between Okinawa and Tokyo over relocation plan of United States Futenma Marine Airbase. With good treatment of Kishida, Abe hoped to contain frustration of Kishida group in LDP, which has certain influence in politics inside the party.

In addition, Abe is going to keep Sanae Takaichi for Minister of Internal Affairs, Yasuhisa Shiozaki for Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare, and Nobuteru Ishihara for Minister in Charge of Economic Revitalization. One post for Komeito, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transportation and Tourism, is continuously vested on Keiichi Ishii. Ministers for important posts in the Cabinet have not be changed.

Abe decided to replace all leaders on three major posts of LDP. After Secretary General, Sadakazu Tanigaki, hospitalized with an accident in his cycling, Abe picked Toshihiro Nikai for the successor. Nikai has strong connection with LDP’s coalition partner, Komeito, and great influential power as a ranked member. Abe also chose Hiroyuki Hosoda for Chairman of General Council and Toshimitsu Motegi for Chairman of Policy Research Council, both of whom were old colleague of Abe.

So who’s new? Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary, Hiroshige Seko, is promoted to Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. Inada will be Minister for Defense. For new Minister for Tokyo Olympic, Abe picked Minister of Environment, Tamayo Marukawa. With possible frustration of the victory of Yuriko Koike in Tokyo gubernatorial election, Abe chose a woman for the counterpart on Olympic issues. The reshuffling is after all refreshment of Abe administration for longer life.