Takaichi Reshuffles Cabinet, Keeps Key Ministers and Adds Coalition Partner Minister

PM Sanae Takaichi carried out her first Cabinet reshuffle, retaining Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama and Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi. Internal Affairs Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi was dropped, and Hiroshi Nakatsuka, a former Japan Innovation Party secretary general, became minister for regulatory reform — the first minister from the junior coalition partner. Cabinet support is about 50%, down from roughly 70% at inauguration; an extraordinary Diet session is expected in October.