The second Takaichi reshuffled cabinet is inaugurated, with key ministers retained.

The second Takaichi reshuffled cabinet was inaugurated on the evening of the 17th after a certification ceremony at the Imperial Palace. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (President of the Liberal Democratic Party) retained key cabinet members, including Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara (57), Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Mogi (70), Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama (67), and Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi (45). This was the first cabinet reshuffle since he took office in October last year, and the lineup focused on continuity in implementing the administration's important policies. Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi (65), who competed with the prime minister in last year's Liberal Democratic Party presidential election, has resigned.

The prime minister held a press conference after the certification ceremony and emphasized, ``This is a cabinet that makes decisions, takes on challenges, and executes.'' He explained that when selecting candidates, they decided to retain or promote them based on (1) the individual's specialized knowledge, awareness of issues, and motivation, (2) strength of the candidate, and (3) continuity and importance of the field in charge.

Seven members were appointed for the first time, including former State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yoshihiro Seki (61), who was involved in the slush fund scandal, as Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and former Vice Minister of Education, Kazuo Yan (47) as Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. This is the first time that the members involved have joined the cabinet since the incident was discovered. The prime minister said, ``Through the two House of Representatives elections, I was sent into national politics,'' indicating that he recognized that the end of his life was over.

In addition, former State Minister of Foreign Affairs Hisayuki Fujii (55) will be appointed as Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, Tatsunori Ibayashi (50), former State Minister of the Cabinet Office, will be appointed Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and House of Councilors member Toshiharu Furukawa (63) will be appointed Minister of Digital Affairs. Former Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Hiroyoshi Sasakawa (60) will be appointed as Environment Minister and will also be responsible for bear countermeasures. Former Secretary-General Hiroshi Nakatsukasa (70) of the Nippon Ishin no Kai, which has turned to cabinet cooperation, has joined the cabinet as minister in charge of regulatory reform.

People with cabinet experience will also be appointed. In addition to former Justice Minister Takashi Yamashita (61) re-appointing as Justice Minister, former Justice Minister Yasuhiro Harashi (66) was appointed as the National Public Safety Commission Chairman, and former Environment Minister Goshi Hosono (55) was appointed as Reconstruction Minister.

Organize the responsibilities of each cabinet minister in order to consolidate highly compatible tasks under one cabinet minister. Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Fujii will also serve as the minister in charge of the development of a ``sub-capital'' that will replace the functions of the capital and regional revitalization, while Minister of Reconstruction Hosono will also serve as the minister in charge of disaster prevention. Digital Minister Furukawa will also be in charge of artificial intelligence (AI) strategy.

Finance Minister Katayama was appointed as the minister in charge of the consumption tax reduction bill, which is the immediate focus.

Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kei Sato (a member of the House of Councilors) was replaced and replaced by Yusuke Nakanishi, 47, a former state minister for internal affairs and communications who is from the Aso faction.