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Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has appointed his eldest son as a top aide, sparking media speculation that the 31-year-old is being groomed to eventually succeed his father’s political career.
Shotaro, the first of Kishida’s three sons, has been appointed as the prime minister’s executive secretary, government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno said on Tuesday. The appointment places Shotaro, already a Kishida staffer, in a small group that follows the prime minister almost everywhere, including overseas trips to meet with world leaders and participate in behind-the-scenes political negotiations.
While it is not uncommon for family members to hold influential government positions, even in democracies, hereditary politics is especially entrenched in Japan. Prime Minister Kishida himself came from a long line of lawmakers in Hiroshima. His predecessor, Yoshihide Suga, the son of a strawberry farmer, is the only leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party over the past two decades who is not from a political family.
The older Kishida may be preparing for an eventual succession by exposing his son to high-level decision-making, public broadcaster NHK said.
Kishida’s approval rating has fallen due to rising living costs and distrust of the LDP’s relationship with the Unification Church, which has many court rulings in Japan over its fundraising methods. Matsuno was asked about the move at his regular news conference and defended it at his discretion.​​​
“Appointments are about putting the right people in the right roles based on character and expertise, and I’m sure this time is no exception,” he told a regular news conference.
Support for Japan’s Kishida slips further after church pledge
Before joining Kishida’s personal office, Shotaro worked for a large trading company, according to NHK. He became one of eight executive secretaries working for Kishida, including six career bureaucrats.
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