Hawkish Abe Cabinet formed

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Hawkish Abe Cabinet formed

Prime Minister Abe Shinzo on September 26 formed his first cabinet that clearly adopts a hawkish stance.

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo at the JCP Dietmembers Group general meeting on the same day commented that Abe's policies have already shown his dangerous intention to bring disasters worse than under the Koizumi cabinet. (see separate item)

The lineup, which includes many Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers widely known as advocates of constitutional revision, reflects the hawkish nature of the new prime minister.

Aso Taro, who advocates prime ministerial visits to Yasukuni Shrine, revision of the Constitution, and exercising the right of collective self-defense, was again named as foreign minister.

As education minister, Abe picked up Ibuki Bunmei, who has long been calling for the adverse revision of the Fundamental Law of Education, to help ensure that a government bill to replace the law will be enacted in this Diet session. Abe also appointed such advocates of revision of the law as Shimomura Hakubun as deputy chief cabinet secretary and Yamatani Eriko as the prime minister's advisor on education.

Abe appointed Kyuma Fumio Defense Agency director general apparently in view of intense discussions on bills related to the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan and upgrading of the Defense Agency to a ministry. Kyuma held the same post in the Hashimoto Cabinet in the mid-1990s.

Abe named his close friend, Shiozaki Yasuhisa, as chief cabinet secretary. Shiozaki has been an outspoken advocate of the "structural reform" policy by which the Koizumi Cabinet brought about an economy based on the laws of the jungle.

Other close aides and supporters of Abe also assumed posts in the cabinet. Amari Akira who worked as Abe's campaign manager in the LDP presidential election, was appointed as the Economy, Trade and Industry Minister.
- Akahata, September 27, 2006