Minoru Kihara

For the television personality, see Minoru Kihara (television personality).
The native form of this personal name is Kihara Minoru. This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals.
Minoru Kihara
木原 稔
Official portrait, 2023
Chief Cabinet Secretary
Incumbent
Assumed office
21 October 2025
Prime MinisterSanae Takaichi
Preceded byYoshimasa Hayashi
Minister of Defense
In office
13 September 2023 – 1 October 2024
Prime MinisterFumio Kishida
Preceded byYasukazu Hamada
Succeeded byGen Nakatani
Member of the House of Representatives
Incumbent
Assumed office
18 December 2012
Preceded byYorihisa Matsuno
ConstituencyKumamoto 1st
In office
11 September 2005 – 21 July 2009
ConstituencyKyushu PR
Personal details
Born (1969-08-12) 12 August 1969
Kumamoto, Japan
PartyLiberal Democratic
Alma materWaseda University

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.

Political career

House of Representatives

A 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

Following a cabinet reshuffle on 13 September 2023, he was appointed minister of defense.[7] Kihara announced on September 15, 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 October 3, 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 May 2, 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]

Chief Cabinet Secretary

On 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

  1. ^ "政治家情報 〜木原 稔〜". Archived from the original on 2007-12-01.
  2. ^ "KIHARA Minoru (The Cabinet)". Prime Minister's Office of Japan. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  3. ^ "Japan's Kishida taps pro-Taiwan MP as new defence minister in cabinet shake-up". South China Morning Post. 2023-09-13. Retrieved 2024-05-09.
  4. ^ Murakami, Sakura (September 14, 2023). "Japan's new cabinet reflects PM's focus on gender and defence". Reuters. Retrieved May 9, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  5. ^ a b "Japan's Kishida taps pro-Taiwan politician as defense minister | Taiwan News | Sep. 14, 2023 15:43". taiwannews.com.tw. 2023-09-14. Retrieved 2024-05-09.
  6. ^ a b "Japan and Taiwan to begin talks on evacuation plans amid China's threats". The Japan Times. 2022-09-01. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
  7. ^ INC, SANKEI DIGITAL (2023-09-13). "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 2024-05-04.
  8. ^ "Japan's new defense chief quits as pro-Taiwan group senior member". 15 September 2023.
  9. ^ "Japan-U.S. Defense Ministerial Meeting (Summary)". Ministry of Defence. October 6, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  10. ^ Kaneko, Kaori; Kelly, Tim; Geddie, John (2024-04-26). "The glitch in Japan's plans to bolster U.S. defense". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  11. ^ a b c Johnson, Jesse (2023-10-16). "Defense chief retracts comments implying LDP vote would be good for SDF". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2024-05-06.
  12. ^ "Defense minister's miscue is an opening for the opposition". The Japan Times. 2023-10-18. Retrieved 2024-05-06.
  13. ^ "Defense Chief Retracts Remark Linking Vote for LDP to SDF". 時事通信ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-05-06.
  14. ^ Johnson, Jesse (2024-05-03). "With eye on China, defense chiefs agree to bolster interoperability". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
  15. ^ "Defense Minister Kihara's Visit to the United States (Summary)". Ministry of Defense. May 4, 2024. Retrieved May 5, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  16. ^ "Takaichi's Cabinet Names Rival Koizumi as Defense Minister". MSN. 21 October 2025. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  17. ^ "Japan demands response from Finland over beauty queen's 'slanted eyes' photos". South China Morning Post. 18 December 2025. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
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