Minoru Kihara (politician)
Kihara Minoru | |
|---|---|
木原 稔 | |
 Minoru Kihara in 2019 | |
| 25th Minister of Defense | |
| Assumed office 13 September 2023 | |
| Prime Minister | Fumio Kishida |
| Preceded by | Yasukazu Hamada |
| Member of the House of Representatives | |
| Assumed office 11 September 2005 - 21 July 2009 18 December 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Yorihisa Matsuno |
| Constituency | Kyushu PR block (2005-2009) Kumamoto 1st district (2012-present) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 12 August 1969 Kumamoto, Japan |
| Political party | Liberal Democratic Party |
| Alma mater | Waseda University |
Minoru Kihara (木原 稔, Kihara Minoru, born August 12, 1969) is a Japanese politician who has served as the Minister of Defense since September 2023. A member of the Liberal Democratic Party, he also serves in the House of Representatives, and was previously the Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Defense.
Political career[edit]
House of Representatives[edit]
A native of Kumamoto and graduate of Waseda University, he was elected for the first time in 2005 after working at Japan Airlines until 2004.[1] In August 2022, Kihara was part of an unofficial Japanese delegation to Taiwan which met with Taiwanese officials, Premier Su Tseng-chang, and Foreign Minister Joseph Wu.[2] An agreement was reached between the delegation and the Taiwanese government, to hold talks over evacuation plans for the 20,000 Japanese citizens living in Taiwan, in the event of a Chinese invasion.[2]
Minister of Defense[edit]
Following a cabinet reshuffle on 13 September 2023, he was appointed minister of defense.[3] Kihara announced on September 15, 2023 that he resigned from a cross-party group that enhances Japan-Taiwan relations.[4]
On October 3, 2023 Kihara visited the United States, where he met with U.S. officials to reaffirm commitment to the U.S.-Japan alliance and advance new areas of cooperation.[5] To help meet recruitment goals for Japan's core cyber defense forces, Kihara proposed loosening fitness requirements and offering higher salaries for new recruits.[6]
On May 2, 2024 Kihara met with defense chief counterparts from the United States, Philippines, and Australia in Hawaii.[7]
.jpg)
References[edit]
- ^ "政治家情報 〜木原 稔〜". Archived from the original on 2007-12-01.
- ^ a b "Japan and Taiwan to begin talks on evacuation plans amid China's threats". The Japan Times. 2022-09-01. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
- ^ INC, SANKEI DIGITAL (2023-09-13). "第２次岸田再改造内閣の閣僚名簿発表". 産経新聞：産経ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-05-04.
- ^ "Japan's new defense chief quits as pro-Taiwan group senior member".
- ^ "Japan-U.S. Defense Ministerial Meeting (Summary)". Ministry of Defence. October 6, 2023. Archived from the original on April 29, 2024. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ Kaneko, Kaori; Kelly, Tim; Geddie, John (2024-04-26). "The glitch in Japan's plans to bolster U.S. defense". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
- ^ Johnson, Jesse (2024-05-03). "With eye on China, defense chiefs agree to bolster interoperability". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
External links[edit]
- Official website in Japanese.
Second Kishida Cabinet (Second Reshuffle) (since 13 September 2023) | ||
|---|---|---|
|  | |
 | This article about a Japanese politician born in the 1960s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |