[REVISION HISTORY]

Japan PM Takaichi to initiate reshuffle and tax reforms

Updated 21 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-09-09 13:07 UTC → 2026-09-10 20:13 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is ~~moving forward~~ proceeding with a planned cabinet and Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership reshuffle, scheduled to begin on September 16. The reorganization aims to stabilize her administration ahead of an extraordinary session of Parliament in early October. ~~The reshuffle, which includes appointments for senior and parliamentary vice-ministers, is expected to be finalized between September 16 and 18.~~ Key figures expected to retain their positions include LDP Vice President Taro Aso, Secretary-General Shunichi Suzuki, and Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara. Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi are also expected to remain in their posts. Within the LDP, Takayuki Kobayashi is a candidate for retention as Policy Research Council Chair, while Koichi Hagiuda is being considered to remain as executive acting secretary-general. The future role of Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications Yoshimasa Hayashi remains a central point of political tension. ~~Due to~~ Addressing the ~~dissolution~~ selection process, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara stated that appointments will be based on merit, expertise, and policy alignment rather than age. Kihara also addressed the impact of ~~most party factions,~~ the ~~appointment process is shifting toward a ‘personnel survey’ method, where Diet members submit preferences~~ party’s political funding scandal, noting that lawmakers who have faced two subsequent elections may still be considered for ~~various roles. This is viewed~~ cabinet positions as they have received a ~~transition toward merit-based appointments rather than traditional factional recommendations.~~ public mandate. The reshuffle may also include the establishment of a new minister for disaster management to oversee the upcoming Disaster Management Agency. On the economic front, the ~~reshuffle follows~~ government is moving toward a fiscal reform package. Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama is expected to oversee a plan to reduce the consumption tax on food and beverages from 8% to 1% for two years, starting next ~~April. Cabinet~~ April, with cabinet approval ~~for this proposal is~~ anticipated by September 15. Public opinion regarding the Takaichi Cabinet has shown divergence in recent polling. A JNN survey conducted on September 5 and 6, 2026, reported a 3.3 percentage point increase in approval to 62.5%, while disapproval fell by 2.7 points to 34.9%.

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