Japan PM reshuffles cabinet as approval ratings slide
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Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reshuffles his government over Japanese politicians' ties with the Unification Church.
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Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (AFP)
Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reshuffled his cabinet Wednesday after a slump in approval ratings, replacing the brother of assassinated ex-leader Shinzo Abe as defense minister.
Kishida led his ruling party to victory in an upper house election last month, days after Abe was assassinated by a man resentful of the Unification Church.
Since then, as the public scrutinizes the church's ties with Japanese politicians and Kishida's handling of the economy, approval ratings for the government have tumbled.
They fell 13 percentage points in three weeks to 46%, according to a poll published Monday by public broadcaster NHK, while another survey by the Yomiuri Shimbun daily showed a drop of eight points from July to 57 %.
Political veteran Yasukazu Hamada was named defense minister - a key role given Kishida's pledge to ramp up the defense budget to counter alleged "threats" from China and North Korea.
Hamada, who previously served as defense minister from 2008 to 2009, replaced Abe's brother Nobuo Kishi, whose ill health has prompted concern.
Kishida also recently vowed to "thoroughly review" his links to the Unification Church, after acknowledging that church members had served as campaign volunteers.
Since Abe's death a month ago, Japanese media has revealed that many ruling lawmakers - especially those in Abe's faction - received similar assistance from Unification Church members.
The organization founded in Korea in 1954 has confirmed that the mother of the man suspected of killing Abe was a member.
She reportedly declared bankruptcy after making donations of around 100 million yen ($1 million at the time) to the church.
Top government Spokesperson Hirokazu Matsuno read out a list of new cabinet members including Katsunobu Kato, who served as health minister under Abe and returns to head the ministry.
Taro Kono, who has also held several high-profile ministerial posts, was named digital affairs minister, and Sanae Takaichi was named economic security minister. The current foreign and finance ministers will stay in place.
