Abe Forms New Cabinet, Prioritizing Stability for Election

October 2, 2018

Tokyo- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe launched his new cabinet on Tuesday, picking many new ministers from Liberal Democratic Party factions that supported his winning of a third straight and final three-year term as the ruling party's president in an election last month.

Meanwhile, he retained key ministers to keep the basic framework of his administration intact. An attestation ceremony for the new cabinet was held at the Imperial Palace in the afternoon.

By continuing an emphasis on the economy, Abe aims to complete his Abenomics economic policy mix, which was launched after he returned as prime minister in December 2012 following his first, one-year tenure until September 2007, while highlighting the achievements of his administration ahead of the election in summer next year for the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of the Diet, the country's parliament.

Abe will also continue promoting summit diplomacy with the aim of realizing tangible results in longstanding issues, including the abductions of Japanese nationals by North Korea decades ago and the territorial row with Russia over four northwestern Pacific islands known as the Northern Territories in Japan, sources familiar with the situation said.

All ministers will join forces to carve out a future for Japan, Abe stressed at a press conference on Tuesday evening, comparing the new cabinet to a baseball team fighting a game as one.

"The LDP should take the lead to submit to the next Diet session legislation designed to revise the country's constitution," Abe said, suggesting he wants the party to introduce such a bill to an extraordinary session seen to be convened this autumn.

He also said that the LDP needs to fully explain its possible proposal for amending the constitution to its coalition partner, Komeito, while promoting intraparty discussions.

Through his victory in the Sept. 20 LDP leadership election, Abe secured the continuation of his administration for up to three more years.

At a meeting earlier on Tuesday, Abe and Komeito leader Natsuo Yamaguchi reaffirmed their parties' cooperation in government management.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga later announced the roster of Abe's reshuffled cabinet at a press conference.

Twelve of the 19 cabinet members chosen by Abe are first-timers, the highest figure for any of the cabinets he formed. The new faces include Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya, 61, and regional revitalization minister Satsuki Katayama, 59. Katayama is the only female minister in the new cabinet. The previous Abe cabinet had two women as ministers.

Also chosen as a first-time member was Justice Minister Takashi Yamashita, a 53-year-old member of the party's faction led by former LDP Secretary-General Shigeru Ishiba, who fought fiercely with Abe in the LDP leadership race. The choice of Yamashita is believed to be a conciliatory gesture, pundits said.

Among the other first-timers are Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Minister Masahiko Shibayama, 52, Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Masatoshi Ishida, 66, and Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Takamori Yoshikawa, 67. Hiromichi Watanabe, 68, was named postdisaster reconstruction minister, and Yoshitaka Sakurada, 68, was assigned to the post of minister in charge of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Former postdisaster reconstruction minister Takumi Nemoto, 67, was appointed health, labor and welfare minister.

Abe retained Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Taro Aso, 78, and Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga, 69, both key members of his administration. Suga doubles as minister for the abductions issue.

Foreign Minister Taro Kono, 55, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Hiroshige Seko, 55, and economic revitalization minister Toshimitsu Motegi, 62, were kept in the same posts. Motegi concurrently serves as minister in charge of reform measures for creating a social security system that benefits all generations.

Keiichi Ishii, 60, was retained as land, infrastructure, transport and tourism minister.

Ishii is from Komeito, and all other ministers are members of the LDP. Jiji Press