Minoru Kihara (木原 稔, Kihara Minoru; born 12 August 1969) is a Japanese politician who has been the Chief Cabinet Secretary since 2025. He previously served as Minister of Defense from 2023 to 2024. A member of the Liberal Democratic Party, he also serves in the House of Representatives, and was previously Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Defense.
Minoru Kihara | |
|---|---|
木原 稔 | |
 Official portrait, 2023 | |
| Chief Cabinet Secretary | |
| Assumed office 21 October 2025 | |
| Prime Minister | Sanae Takaichi |
| Preceded by | Yoshimasa Hayashi |
| Minister of Defense | |
| In office 13 September 2023 – 1 October 2024 | |
| Prime Minister | Fumio Kishida |
| Preceded by | Yasukazu Hamada |
| Succeeded by | Gen Nakatani |
| Member of the House of Representatives | |
| Assumed office 18 December 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Yorihisa Matsuno |
| Constituency | Kumamoto 1st |
| In office 11 September 2005 – 21 July 2009 | |
| Constituency | Kyushu PR |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 12 August 1969 Kumamoto, Japan |
| Party | Liberal Democratic |
| Waseda University | |
Political career
editHouse of Representatives
editA 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] Kihara served as the Special Advisor to the Prime Minister for National Security Affairs from 2019 to 2021, for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Yoshihide Suga.[2]
Kihara is considered a pro-Taiwan MP.[3][4][5] 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.[6] 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.[6]
In July 2023, Kihara participated in a war game conducted by the think tank, Japan Forum for Strategic Studies, the war game simulated a Chinese attack on Taiwan. In the war game, Kihara played the role of Japan's defense minister and proposed using "counterattack capabilities" against China to resist the invasion.[5]
Minister of Defense
editFollowing a cabinet reshuffle on 13 September 2023, he was appointed minister of defense.[7] Kihara announced on 15 September 2023 that he resigned as secretary general of cross-party group dedicated to enhancing Japan–Taiwan relations, in order to devote himself to his new duties.[8]
On 3 October 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.[9] To help meet recruitment goals for Japan's core cyber defense forces, Kihara proposed loosening fitness requirements and offering higher salaries for new recruits.[10]
Kihara received criticism for his remarks in October 2023 at a political rally to support the LDP in a by-election, where he stated that "Supporting the LDP candidate will repay the efforts of the Self-Defense Forces and their families.”[11] Critics claimed that Kihara had used the SDF for political purposes, and had violated its political neutrality.[11][12] Kihara later retracted his remarks for causing a "misunderstanding".[11][13]
On 2 May 2024 Kihara met with defense chief counterparts from the United States, Philippines, and Australia in Hawaii.[14] In a series of bilateral, trilateral, and quadrilateral talks Kihara alongside his counterparts reaffirmed commitments to maintaining a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.[15]
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Chief Cabinet Secretary
editOn 21 October 2025, Kihara was appointed Chief Cabinet Secretary by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, replacing Yoshimasa Hayashi.[16]
On 18 December 2025, Kihara expressed concern regarding images of a Finnish beauty pageant winner and several lawmakers making gestures considered racially offensive to Asians. During a press conference, he stated that Japan expected the Finnish government to "appropriately respond" to the incident.[17]
References
edit- ↑ "政治家情報 〜木原 稔〜". Archived from the original on 1 December 2007.
- ↑ "KIHARA Minoru (The Cabinet)". Prime Minister's Office of Japan. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
- ↑ "Japan's Kishida taps pro-Taiwan MP as new defence minister in cabinet shake-up". South China Morning Post. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
- ↑ Murakami, Sakura (14 September 2023). "Japan's new cabinet reflects PM's focus on gender and defence". Reuters. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - 1 2 "Japan's Kishida taps pro-Taiwan politician as defense minister | Taiwan News | Sep. 14, 2023 15:43". taiwannews.com.tw. 14 September 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
- 1 2 "Japan and Taiwan to begin talks on evacuation plans amid China's threats". The Japan Times. 1 September 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
- ↑ INC, SANKEI DIGITAL (13 September 2023). "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 4 May 2024.
- ↑ "Japan's new defense chief quits as pro-Taiwan group senior member". 15 September 2023.
- ↑ "Japan-U.S. Defense Ministerial Meeting (Summary)". Ministry of Defence. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ Kaneko, Kaori; Kelly, Tim; Geddie, John (26 April 2024). "The glitch in Japan's plans to bolster U.S. defense". The Japan Times. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- 1 2 3 Johnson, Jesse (16 October 2023). "Defense chief retracts comments implying LDP vote would be good for SDF". The Japan Times. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
- ↑ "Defense minister's miscue is an opening for the opposition". The Japan Times. 18 October 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
- ↑ "Defense Chief Retracts Remark Linking Vote for LDP to SDF". 時事通信ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 6 May 2024.
- ↑ Johnson, Jesse (3 May 2024). "With eye on China, defense chiefs agree to bolster interoperability". The Japan Times. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
- ↑ "Defense Minister Kihara's Visit to the United States (Summary)". Ministry of Defense. 4 May 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ "Takaichi's Cabinet Names Rival Koizumi as Defense Minister". MSN. 21 October 2025. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ↑ "Japan demands response from Finland over beauty queen's 'slanted eyes' photos". South China Morning Post. 18 December 2025. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
External links
edit- Official website in Japanese.