PM Takaichi's meeting with TSMC CEO

PM Takaichi's meeting with TSMC CEO

(From L) Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Chief Executive Officer C.C. Wei, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara pose for a photo at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Feb. 5, 2026.

Japan PM Takaichi at Cabinet meeting

Japan PM Takaichi at Cabinet meeting

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) is pictured ahead of a Cabinet meeting at her office in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026.

Japan PM Takaichi at Cabinet meeting

Japan PM Takaichi at Cabinet meeting

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) is pictured ahead of a Cabinet meeting at her office in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026.

Japan PM Takaichi at Cabinet meeting

Japan PM Takaichi at Cabinet meeting

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) is pictured ahead of a Cabinet meeting at her office in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026.

Japan PM Takaichi at Cabinet meeting

Japan PM Takaichi at Cabinet meeting

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) is pictured ahead of a Cabinet meeting at her office in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026.

Japan PM Takaichi at Cabinet meeting

Japan PM Takaichi at Cabinet meeting

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) is pictured ahead of a Cabinet meeting at her office in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026.

Japan PM Takaichi at Cabinet meeting

Japan PM Takaichi at Cabinet meeting

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) is pictured ahead of a Cabinet meeting at her office in Tokyo on Jan. 20, 2026, a day after announcing her plan to dissolve the House of Representatives on Jan. 23 for a snap general election on Feb. 8.

Japan PM Takaichi at Cabinet meeting

Japan PM Takaichi at Cabinet meeting

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) is pictured ahead of a Cabinet meeting at her office in Tokyo on Jan. 20, 2026, a day after announcing her plan to dissolve the House of Representatives on Jan. 23 for a snap general election on Feb. 8.

Japan PM Takaichi at Cabinet meeting

Japan PM Takaichi at Cabinet meeting

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) is pictured ahead of a Cabinet meeting at her office in Tokyo on Jan. 20, 2026, a day after announcing her plan to dissolve the House of Representatives on Jan. 23 for a snap general election on Feb. 8.

Japan PM Takaichi at Cabinet meeting

Japan PM Takaichi at Cabinet meeting

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) is pictured with members of her Cabinet ahead of a Cabinet meeting at her office in Tokyo on Jan. 20, 2026, a day after announcing her plan to dissolve the House of Representatives on Jan. 23 for a snap general election on Feb. 8.

Japan top spokesman Kihara

Japan top spokesman Kihara

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara speaks at a press conference in Tokyo on Jan. 15, 2026.

Japan Cabinet OKs record FY 2026 draft budget

Japan Cabinet OKs record FY 2026 draft budget

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets the press at the premier's office in Tokyo on Dec. 26, 2025, following the Cabinet's approval of a record 122.31 trillion yen ($783 billion) draft initial budget for fiscal 2026.

Japan Cabinet OKs record FY 2026 draft budget

Japan Cabinet OKs record FY 2026 draft budget

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets the press at the premier's office in Tokyo on Dec. 26, 2025, following the Cabinet's approval of a record 122.31 trillion yen ($783 billion) draft initial budget for fiscal 2026.

Japan Cabinet OKs record FY 2026 draft budget

Japan Cabinet OKs record FY 2026 draft budget

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets the press at the premier's office in Tokyo on Dec. 26, 2025, following the Cabinet's approval of a record 122.31 trillion yen ($783 billion) draft initial budget for fiscal 2026.

Japan PM Takaichi at ceremony

Japan PM Takaichi at ceremony

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi delivers remarks at a ceremony marking the 140th anniversary of the establishment of the Cabinet system at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Dec. 22, 2025.

Japan PM Takaichi at ceremony

Japan PM Takaichi at ceremony

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi delivers remarks at a ceremony marking the 140th anniversary of the establishment of the Cabinet system at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Dec. 22, 2025.

Ex-Japan PM Suga at ceremony

Ex-Japan PM Suga at ceremony

Former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga (front) attends a ceremony marking the 140th anniversary of the establishment of the Cabinet system at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Dec. 22, 2025.

Ex-Japan PM Aso at ceremony

Ex-Japan PM Aso at ceremony

Former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso (C) attends a ceremony marking the 140th anniversary of the establishment of the Cabinet system at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Dec. 22, 2025.

Aftermath of strong quake in northeastern Japan

Aftermath of strong quake in northeastern Japan

Japanese disaster management minister Jiro Akama (C) speaks during a disaster response meeting with relevant ministries at the Cabinet Office in Tokyo in the early hours of Dec. 9, 2025, following a powerful earthquake that hit northeastern Japan.

Japan PM Takaichi

Japan PM Takaichi

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) heads to a Cabinet meeting at her office in Tokyo on Dec. 5, 2025.

Japan PM Takaichi

Japan PM Takaichi

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) waits to attend a Cabinet meeting at her office in Tokyo on Dec. 5, 2025.

U.S. ambassador meets Japan's top spokesman

U.S. ambassador meets Japan's top spokesman

U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass meets the press at the Japanese prime minister's office in Tokyo on Nov. 21, 2025, after holding talks with Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara.

U.S. ambassador meets Japan's top spokesman

U.S. ambassador meets Japan's top spokesman

U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass meets the press at the Japanese prime minister's office in Tokyo on Nov. 21, 2025, after holding talks with Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara.

48th anniv. of Megumi Yokota's abduction

48th anniv. of Megumi Yokota's abduction

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara (C) meets the press during a visit to the site in Niigata, northwest of Tokyo, where Megumi Yokota was abducted by North Korea in 1977 at age 13, together with her younger twin brothers Tetsuya (L) and Takuya on Nov. 15, 2025, the 48th anniversary of her abduction.

48th anniv. of Megumi Yokota's abduction

48th anniv. of Megumi Yokota's abduction

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara (C) meets the press during a visit to the site in Niigata, northwest of Tokyo, where Megumi Yokota was abducted by North Korea in 1977 at age 13, together with her younger twin brothers Tetsuya (L) and Takuya on Nov. 15, 2025, the 48th anniversary of her abduction.

48th anniv. of Megumi Yokota's abduction

48th anniv. of Megumi Yokota's abduction

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara (far R) visits the site in Niigata, northwest of Tokyo, where Megumi Yokota was abducted by North Korea in 1977 at age 13, together with her younger twin brothers Tetsuya (2nd from R) and Takuya (2nd from L) on Nov. 15, 2025, the 48th anniversary of her abduction.

Trump in Japan

Trump in Japan

U.S. President Donald Trump is greeted by Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara (L) upon arrival at Tokyo's Haneda airport on Oct. 27, 2025, as the president visits Japan on the second leg of his nearly weeklong, three-nation trip to Asia, which began in Malaysia. (Pool photo)

New Japan PM Takaichi

New Japan PM Takaichi

New Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (3rd from R) heads to a Cabinet meeting at her office in Tokyo on Oct. 23, 2025.

New Japan PM Takaichi

New Japan PM Takaichi

New Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) is pictured with the members of her Cabinet ahead of its meeting at her office in Tokyo on Oct. 23, 2025.

New Japan PM Takaichi

New Japan PM Takaichi

New Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) is pictured ahead of a Cabinet meeting at her office in Tokyo on Oct. 23, 2025, alongside Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi (L) and Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi.

New Japan PM Takaichi

New Japan PM Takaichi

New Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) is pictured ahead of a Cabinet meeting at her office in Tokyo on Oct. 23, 2025, alongside Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi (L) and Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi.

New Japan PM Takaichi

New Japan PM Takaichi

New Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is pictured ahead of a Cabinet meeting at her office in Tokyo on Oct. 23, 2025.

Inauguration of Japan PM Takaichi's Cabinet

Inauguration of Japan PM Takaichi's Cabinet

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (front, R) is formally inaugurated in a ceremony with Emperor Naruhito (front, L) at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo after being elected as the nation's first female prime minister by parliament on Oct. 21, 2025. Former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (back, L) attended the ceremony.

Inauguration of Japan PM Takaichi's Cabinet

Inauguration of Japan PM Takaichi's Cabinet

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (front, R) is formally inaugurated in a ceremony with Emperor Naruhito (2nd from L) at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo after being elected as the nation's first female prime minister by parliament on Oct. 21, 2025. Former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (back, L) attended the ceremony.

Lineup of Japan PM Takaichi's Cabinet

Lineup of Japan PM Takaichi's Cabinet

Newly appointed Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara arrives at the premier's office in Tokyo on Oct. 21, 2025, before an attestation ceremony for the Cabinet of new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the Imperial Palace.

Lineup of Japan PM Takaichi's Cabinet

Lineup of Japan PM Takaichi's Cabinet

Newly appointed Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara arrives at the premier's office in Tokyo on Oct. 21, 2025, before an attestation ceremony for the Cabinet of new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the Imperial Palace.

Lineup of Japan PM Takaichi's Cabinet

Lineup of Japan PM Takaichi's Cabinet

Newly appointed Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara announces the lineup of new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's Cabinet on Oct. 21, 2025, at the prime minister's office in Tokyo.

Japanese Prime Minister Murayama in 1994

Japanese Prime Minister Murayama in 1994

Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama (front row, C) and newly appointed Cabinet members pose for a commemorative photo after their first Cabinet meeting at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on June 30, 1994.

Wartime Japan PM Koiso's government inaugurated

Wartime Japan PM Koiso's government inaugurated

Cabinet ministers under the government of wartime Japanese Prime Minister Gen. Kuniaki Koiso (1st row, 2nd from R) pose for a photo at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on July 22, 1944, following its inauguration.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi speaks at a press conference in Tokyo on Oct. 9, 2025, welcoming the agreement between Israel and Hamas on the first phase of the U.S.-mediated Gaza Strip peace plan.

Japan LDP leadership election

Japan LDP leadership election

Yoshimasa Hayashi, Japanese chief Cabinet secretary and a candidate in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's upcoming leadership election, speaks during a debate at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on Sept. 24, 2025.

Joint press conference ahead of LDP leadership poll

Joint press conference ahead of LDP leadership poll

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi answers a reporter's question during a joint press conference with four other candidates for the upcoming Liberal Democratic Party leadership election at the LDP headquarters in Tokyo on Sept. 23, 2025.

LDP leadership election

LDP leadership election

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi makes a policy speech at the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's headquarters in Tokyo on Sept. 22, 2025, as official campaigning for the Oct. 4 LDP leadership election begins.

[Breaking News]Hayashi to run in LDP leadership race

TOKYO, Japan, Sept. 18 Kyodo - Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi poses in front of reporters in Tokyo on Sept. 18, 2025, after announcing his intention to run in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election. (Kyodo)

Hayashi to run in LDP leadership race

Hayashi to run in LDP leadership race

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi poses in front of reporters in Tokyo on Sept. 18, 2025, after announcing his intention to run in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election.

Hayashi to run for LDP head

Hayashi to run for LDP head

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi speaks to reporters in Tokyo on Sept. 18, 2025, announcing his intention to run in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election.

Hayashi to run for LDP head

Hayashi to run for LDP head

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi speaks to reporters in Tokyo on Sept. 18, 2025, announcing his intention to run in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election.

Hayashi to run for LDP head

Hayashi to run for LDP head

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi speaks to reporters in Tokyo on Sept. 18, 2025, announcing his intention to run in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi meets the press in Tokyo on Sept. 16, 2025, announcing his intention to run in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's leadership race.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi meets the press in Tokyo on Sept. 16, 2025, announcing his intention to run in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's leadership race.