“My birthday is January 19th, so I think it’s used like 119.”
This is what Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi (林芳正), who took office as Chief Cabinet Secretary and the Japanese government’s ‘Number 2’ and spokesperson on the 14th, said in an NHK broadcast talk program last week. The situation in which Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (岸田文雄), who had an approval rating at the level of his resignation, was urgently inserted into the cabinet was addressed with humor.
The Japanese media assesses that Minister Hayashi had a good start. Although it is too early to give a score, his ability to stably manage a crisis situation that has led to rumors that Prime Minister Kishida will be toppled within the year stands out.
Minister Hayashi succeeds former Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, who stepped down due to suspicions about the creation of slush funds by the Abe faction of the Liberal Democratic Party. Former Minister Matsuno, a former secretary-general of the Abe faction, avoided answering at every press conference even as reports about the slush fund poured in, fueling the decline in Prime Minister Kishida’s approval ratings. On the other hand, Minister Hayashi clearly stated that he “did not receive slush funds” in response to allegations of slush funds being raised against him, and was proactive in response to criticism of the Kishida faction and the Liberal Democratic Party to which he belongs, saying, “I will explain myself if necessary.”
Starting with the Minister of Defense in 2008, this is the 7th ministerial appointment, and 4 of them were ‘rescue appointments’ following the dishonorable resignation of his predecessor. The Yomiuri Shimbun commented, “He has a reputation as a stable policy expert within the party.” Since his election to the House of Councilors in 1995, he has been active in the same faction (Kochikai) as Prime Minister Kishida, forming a relationship with him. He now effectively runs the faction on behalf of the Prime Minister.
In Japanese politics and media, politicians who succeeded as Chief Cabinet Secretary are often cited as strong candidates for the next Prime Minister. There is an analysis that Minister Hayashi’s presence could increase if he assists Prime Minister Kishida well and escapes the worst situation in the current cabinet to some extent.
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Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.