The Asahi Shimbun reported late Sunday that Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has decided to replace four ministers and 11 other government positions amid public outrage over a scandal involving undisclosed funding. The newspaper mentioned that Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, Trade Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, Internal Affairs Minister Junji Suzuki, and Agriculture Minister Ichiro Miyashita are among those being replaced, along with deputies and parliamentary secretaries. Nishimura stated on Sunday that he would remain in his position and review fundraising income following media reports about an imminent cabinet reshuffle related to allegations of unreported funds.
The fifteen officials slated for dismissal belong to the "Abe faction," the largest grouping within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, which has been under investigation by prosecutors for concealing over 100 million yen (approximately $690,000) in political funds over five years. The newspaper noted that Kishida is scheduled to hold a press conference on Wednesday at the conclusion of the current parliamentary session to explain his government's handling of the situation. Kishida’s approval ratings were below 30 percent even before the fundraising scandal, marking a record low during his tenure which began in October 2021, reflecting voters' concerns about rising living costs and impending tax increases.
