Arata Takebe appointed Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

Arata Takebe has been appointed as Japan’s Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. A six-term member of the House of Representatives representing Hokkaido, Takebe succeeds Kazuo Yanagi, who resigned following criticisms regarding budget cuts and shuttle bus issues.

Takebe’s appointment marks a multi-generational milestone for his family, as his father, Tsutomu Takebe, previously served in the same ministerial role and as Secretary-General of the Liberal Democratic Party. Arata Takebe brings significant administrative experience to the position, having previously served as Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, as well as Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

Local stakeholders in the Soya and Okhotsk regions, where Takebe holds a political base, have expressed high expectations for his leadership in bolstering primary industries such as agriculture and fisheries.