Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (front row, C) and her Cabinet members pose for a group photo at the premier's office in Tokyo on Sept. 17, 2026, following the reshuffle of her Cabinet.

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (front row, C) and her Cabinet members pose for a group photo at the premier's office in Tokyo on Sept. 17, 2026, following the reshuffle of her Cabinet.

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (front row, C) and her Cabinet members pose for a group photo at the premier's office in Tokyo on Sept. 17, 2026, following the reshuffle of her Cabinet.

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (front row, C) and her Cabinet members pose for a group photo at the premier's office in Tokyo on Sept. 17, 2026, following the reshuffle of her Cabinet.

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (front row, C) and her Cabinet members pose for a group photo at the premier's office in Tokyo on Sept. 17, 2026, following the reshuffle of her Cabinet.

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (front row, C) and her Cabinet members pose for a group photo at the premier's office in Tokyo on Sept. 17, 2026, following the reshuffle of her Cabinet.

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (front row, C) and her Cabinet members pose for a group photo at the premier's office in Tokyo on Sept. 17, 2026, following the reshuffle of her Cabinet.

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) holds a Cabinet meeting at the premier's office in Tokyo on Sept. 17, 2026, the first after a reshuffle.

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) holds a Cabinet meeting at the premier's office in Tokyo on Sept. 17, 2026, the first after a reshuffle.

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi holds a press conference at the premier's office in Tokyo on Sept. 17, 2026, after reshuffling her Cabinet.

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi holds a press conference at the premier's office in Tokyo on Sept. 17, 2026, after reshuffling her Cabinet.

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi holds a press conference at the premier's office in Tokyo on Sept. 17, 2026, after reshuffling her Cabinet.

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi holds a press conference at the premier's office in Tokyo on Sept. 17, 2026, after reshuffling her Cabinet.

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi holds a press conference at the premier's office in Tokyo on Sept. 17, 2026, after reshuffling her Cabinet.

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi holds a press conference at the premier's office in Tokyo on Sept. 17, 2026, after reshuffling her Cabinet.

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi holds a press conference at the premier's office in Tokyo on Sept. 17, 2026, after reshuffling her Cabinet.

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi holds a press conference at the premier's office in Tokyo on Sept. 17, 2026, after reshuffling her Cabinet.

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi holds a press conference at the premier's office in Tokyo on Sept. 17, 2026, after reshuffling her Cabinet.

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi holds a press conference at the premier's office in Tokyo on Sept. 17, 2026, after reshuffling her Cabinet.

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi holds a press conference at the premier's office in Tokyo on Sept. 17, 2026, after reshuffling her Cabinet.

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi holds a press conference at the premier's office in Tokyo on Sept. 17, 2026, after reshuffling her Cabinet.

Wartime forced labor lawsuit

Wartime forced labor lawsuit

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara holds a press conference in Tokyo on Sept. 16, 2026, after 50 family members of Chinese wartime forced laborers filed a lawsuit against six Japanese companies with a court in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, southwest of Beijing.

Wartime forced labor lawsuit

Wartime forced labor lawsuit

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara holds a press conference in Tokyo on Sept. 16, 2026, after 50 family members of Chinese wartime forced laborers filed a lawsuit against six Japanese companies with a court in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, southwest of Beijing.

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara reads out the lineup of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's reshuffled Cabinet at the premier's office in Tokyo on Sept. 17, 2026.

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara reads out the lineup of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's reshuffled Cabinet at the premier's office in Tokyo on Sept. 17, 2026.

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara reads out the lineup of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's reshuffled Cabinet at the premier's office in Tokyo on Sept. 17, 2026.

Japan PM Takaichi

Japan PM Takaichi

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrives at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Sept. 17, 2026, prior to her Cabinet reshuffle later in the day.

Japan PM Takaichi

Japan PM Takaichi

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrives at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Sept. 17, 2026, prior to her Cabinet reshuffle later in the day.

Japan ruling camp talk

Japan ruling camp talk

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R), also president of the Liberal Democratic Party, shakes hands with Hirofumi Yoshimura, head of the Japan Innovation Party, at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Sept. 16, 2026, ahead of talks before a Cabinet reshuffle planned for Sept. 17.

Japan ruling camp talk

Japan ruling camp talk

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R), also president of the Liberal Democratic Party, hold talks with Hirofumi Yoshimura, head of the Japan Innovation Party, at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Sept. 16, 2026, before a Cabinet reshuffle planned for Sept. 17.

Japan ruling camp talk

Japan ruling camp talk

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (3rd from R), also president of the Liberal Democratic Party, shakes hands with Hirofumi Yoshimura, head of the Japan Innovation Party, at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Sept. 16, 2026, ahead of talks before a Cabinet reshuffle planned for Sept. 17.

Japan Finance Minister Katayama

Japan Finance Minister Katayama

Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama speaks during a press conference at the ministry in Tokyo on Sept. 15, 2026, after the Cabinet approved a tax reform package that would cut Japan's 8 percent consumption tax on food and nonalcoholic beverages to 1 percent for two years starting April 2027.

Japan Finance Minister Katayama

Japan Finance Minister Katayama

Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama speaks during a press conference at the ministry in Tokyo on Sept. 15, 2026, after the Cabinet approved a tax reform package that would cut Japan's 8 percent consumption tax on food and nonalcoholic beverages to 1 percent for two years starting April 2027.

Japan Finance Minister Katayama

Japan Finance Minister Katayama

Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama speaks during a press conference at the ministry in Tokyo on Sept. 15, 2026, after the Cabinet approved a tax reform package that would cut Japan's 8 percent consumption tax on food and nonalcoholic beverages to 1 percent for two years starting April 2027.

Japan Diet group urges gov't action on U.S. sanctions on ICC chief

Japan Diet group urges gov't action on U.S. sanctions on ICC chief

Former Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani (2nd from L), co-head of a cross-party parliamentary group promoting human rights diplomacy, and its members are pictured after submitting a statement to Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara (2nd from R) in Tokyo on Sept. 15, 2026, urging the Japanese government to demand the U.S. administration of President Donald Trump immediately withdraw its sanctions on International Criminal Court head Tomoko Akane. The move came after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi described the U.S. action as "very unfortunate," prompting criticism that Tokyo's response was weak.

Japan Diet group urges gov't action on U.S. sanctions on ICC chief

Japan Diet group urges gov't action on U.S. sanctions on ICC chief

Former Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani (2nd from R), co-head of a cross-party parliamentary group promoting human rights diplomacy, submits a statement to Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara (R) in Tokyo on Sept. 15, 2026, urging the Japanese government to demand the U.S. administration of President Donald Trump immediately withdraw its sanctions on International Criminal Court head Tomoko Akane. The move comes after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi described the U.S. action as "very unfortunate," prompting criticism that Tokyo's response was weak.

Japan Diet group urges gov't action on U.S. sanctions on ICC chief

Japan Diet group urges gov't action on U.S. sanctions on ICC chief

Former Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani (7th from L), co-head of a cross-party parliamentary group promoting human rights diplomacy, and its members are pictured after submitting a statement to Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara (8th from L) in Tokyo on Sept. 15, 2026, urging the Japanese government to demand the U.S. administration of President Donald Trump immediately withdraw its sanctions on International Criminal Court head Tomoko Akane. The move came after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi described the U.S. action as "very unfortunate," prompting criticism that Tokyo's response was weak.

Japan top spokesman visits quake-hit Kumamoto

Japan top spokesman visits quake-hit Kumamoto

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara (C) is briefed by Kumamoto Mayor Kazufumi Onishi (L) about damage to Kumamoto Castle during a visit to Kumamoto, southwestern Japan, on Aug. 22, 2026, following a powerful earthquake that struck the region on July 28.

Japan top spokesman visits quake-hit Kumamoto

Japan top spokesman visits quake-hit Kumamoto

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara meets the press during a visit to quake-hit Kumamoto Castle in Kumamoto, southwestern Japan, on Aug. 22, 2026, following a powerful earthquake that struck the region on July 28.

Japan top spokesman visits quake-hit Kumamoto

Japan top spokesman visits quake-hit Kumamoto

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara meets the press during a visit to quake-hit Kumamoto Castle in Kumamoto, southwestern Japan, on Aug. 22, 2026, following a powerful earthquake that struck the region on July 28.

Japan top spokesman visits quake-hit Kumamoto

Japan top spokesman visits quake-hit Kumamoto

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara meets the press during a visit to quake-hit Kumamoto Castle in Kumamoto, southwestern Japan, on Aug. 22, 2026, following a powerful earthquake that struck the region on July 28.

Japan top spokesman visits quake-hit Kumamoto

Japan top spokesman visits quake-hit Kumamoto

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara meets the press during a visit to quake-hit Kumamoto Castle in Kumamoto, southwestern Japan, on Aug. 22, 2026, following a powerful earthquake that struck the region on July 28.

Japan top spokesman visits quake-hit Kumamoto

Japan top spokesman visits quake-hit Kumamoto

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara (R) is briefed by Kumamoto Mayor Kazufumi Onishi about damage to Kumamoto Castle during a visit to Kumamoto, southwestern Japan, on Aug. 22, 2026, following a powerful earthquake that struck the region on July 28.

Japan top spokesman visits Aeon Mall explosion site

Japan top spokesman visits Aeon Mall explosion site

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara lays flowers on Aug. 21, 2026, at the Aeon Mall Kumamoto shopping complex in Kashima, Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, to pay respects to the seven people killed there in a July 28 gas explosion triggered by a powerful earthquake in the region.

Japan top spokesman visits Aeon Mall explosion site

Japan top spokesman visits Aeon Mall explosion site

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara (2nd from L) visits the Aeon Mall Kumamoto shopping complex in Kashima in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Aug. 21, 2026, to pay respects to the seven people killed there in a July 28 gas explosion triggered by a powerful earthquake in the region.

Japan top spokesman visits Aeon Mall explosion site

Japan top spokesman visits Aeon Mall explosion site

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara visits the Aeon Mall Kumamoto shopping complex in Kashima in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Aug. 21, 2026, to pay respects to the seven people killed there in a July 28 gas explosion triggered by a powerful earthquake in the region.

Japan top spokesman visits Aeon Mall explosion site

Japan top spokesman visits Aeon Mall explosion site

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara bows on Aug. 21, 2026, at a flower stand at the Aeon Mall Kumamoto shopping complex in Kashima, Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, to pay respects to the seven people killed there in a July 28 gas explosion triggered by a powerful earthquake in the region.

Japan top spokesman visits Aeon Mall explosion site

Japan top spokesman visits Aeon Mall explosion site

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara bows on Aug. 21, 2026, at a flower stand at the Aeon Mall Kumamoto shopping complex in Kashima, Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, to pay respects to the seven people killed there in a July 28 gas explosion triggered by a powerful earthquake in the region.

Junior high school student meeting on abductions by N. Korea

Junior high school student meeting on abductions by N. Korea

Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara speaks to junior high school students from across Japan during a government-sponsored meeting in Tokyo on Aug. 7, 2026, aimed at enhancing public awareness, especially among young people, of North Korea's abduction of Japanese citizens in the 1970s and 1980s.

Junior high school student meeting on abductions by N. Korea

Junior high school student meeting on abductions by N. Korea

Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara speaks to junior high school students from across Japan during a government-sponsored meeting in Tokyo on Aug. 7, 2026, aimed at enhancing public awareness, especially among young people, of North Korea's abduction of Japanese citizens in the 1970s and 1980s.