Kishida likely to become LDPʼs policy chief

August 2, 2017

TOKYO- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is seen naming Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, 60, as chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party's Policy Research Council, in cabinet and party leadership shakeups on Thursday, informed sources said Wednesday. Abe, president of the ruling LDP, also plans to appoint Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Wataru Takeshita, 70, as chairman of the General Council, according to the sources. Secretary-General Toshihiro Nikai, 78, is expected to retain the post.

Industry minister Hiroshige Seko, 54, who also serves as minister for economic cooperation with Russia, and post-disaster reconstruction minister Masayoshi Yoshino, 68, are slated to stay on, the sources said.

Masaji Matsuyama, 58, the LDP's Diet affairs chief in the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of the Diet, Japan's parliament, is expected to win a ministerial post for the first time.

Seiko Noda, 56, former chair of the General Council, who has distanced herself from Abe, is also likely to join the new cabinet.

The prime minister apparently aims to highlight his emphasis on party unity by giving Noda a ministerial post, as his administration is suffering from plunging public support, sources familiar with the situation said.

Kishida will be given the key party post in line with his hope. At the LDP, he aims to prepare for his possible candidacy in a future party presidential race after serving as foreign minister consistently since the current Abe administration was launched in December 2012, the sources said.

In the cabinet shakeup, Abe is widely believed to name LDP Policy Research Council Acting Chairman Itsunori Onodera, 57, as defense minister. Onodera once held the ministerial post.

Tomomi Inada abruptly quit as defense minister last week over a cover-up of reports from the Ground Self-Defense Force troops on a UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan. Kishida currently doubles as defense minister.

With the ministry in tatters, pundits said the post of defense minister should be filled by a person well-versed in the field.

Toshimitsu Motegi, 61, chairman of the LDP policy panel, is seen joining the new cabinet, possibly as economic revitalization minister, informed sources said. Tamayo Marukawa, minister in charge of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, is likely to leave, the sources also said.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Taro Aso, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga and LDP Vice President Masahiko Komura are set to stay at their posts. Jiji Press