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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|U.S.-Japan alliance]] and advance new areas of cooperation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 6, 2023 |title=Japan-U.S. Defense Ministerial Meeting (Summary) |url=https://www.mod.go.jp/en/article/2023/10/41f53aa84afe7d9b1e12f41fe7e3e8de59df8aa7.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/iLqgI |archive-date=April 29, 2024 |access-date=April 29, 2024 |website=Ministry of Defence}}</ref> To help meet recruitment goals for Japan's core cyber defense forces, Kihara proposed loosening fitness requirements and offering higher salaries for new recruits.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kaneko |first=Kaori |last2=Kelly |first2=Tim |last3=Geddie |first3=John |date=2024-04-26 |title=The glitch in Japan's plans to bolster U.S. defense |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/04/26/japan/politics/japan-security-vulnerabilities/ |access-date=2024-04-29 |website=The Japan Times |language=en}}</ref>
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|U.S.-Japan alliance]] and advance new areas of cooperation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 6, 2023 |title=Japan-U.S. Defense Ministerial Meeting (Summary) |url=https://www.mod.go.jp/en/article/2023/10/41f53aa84afe7d9b1e12f41fe7e3e8de59df8aa7.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/iLqgI |archive-date=April 29, 2024 |access-date=April 29, 2024 |website=Ministry of Defence}}</ref> To help meet recruitment goals for Japan's core cyber defense forces, Kihara proposed loosening fitness requirements and offering higher salaries for new recruits.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kaneko |first=Kaori |last2=Kelly |first2=Tim |last3=Geddie |first3=John |date=2024-04-26 |title=The glitch in Japan's plans to bolster U.S. defense |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/04/26/japan/politics/japan-security-vulnerabilities/ |access-date=2024-04-29 |website=The Japan Times |language=en}}</ref>


On May 2, 2024 Kihara met with defense chief counterparts from the United States, Philippines, and Australia in Hawaii.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Jesse |date=2024-05-03 |title=With eye on China, defense chiefs agree to bolster interoperability |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/05/03/asia-pacific/politics/us-japan-australia-philippines-defense-chiefs/ |access-date=2024-05-03 |website=The Japan Times |language=en}}</ref>
On May 2, 2024 Kihara met with defense chief counterparts from the United States, Philippines, and Australia in Hawaii.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Jesse |date=2024-05-03 |title=With eye on China, defense chiefs agree to bolster interoperability |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/05/03/asia-pacific/politics/us-japan-australia-philippines-defense-chiefs/ |access-date=2024-05-03 |website=The Japan Times |language=en}}</ref> In a series of bilateral, trilateral, and quadrilateral talks Kihara alongside his counterparts reaffirmed commitments to maintaining a [[Free and Open Indo-Pacific]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 4, 2024 |title=Defense Minister Kihara’s Visit to the United States (Summary) |url=https://www.mod.go.jp/en/article/2024/05/f62d350215c24733ac509ec2514a99c231781e4a.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/kFTUQ |archive-date=May 5, 2024 |access-date=May 5, 2024 |website=Ministry of Defense}}</ref>
[[File:231004-D-GD090-2050 (53233701352).jpg|thumb|Kihara with U.S. Secretary of Defense [[Lloyd Austin]] in Pentagon, Washington, D.C., 4 October 2023]]
[[File:231004-D-GD090-2050 (53233701352).jpg|thumb|Kihara with U.S. Secretary of Defense [[Lloyd Austin]] in Pentagon, Washington, D.C., 4 October 2023]]
== References ==
== References ==

Revision as of 14:28, 5 May 2024

Kihara Minoru
木原 稔
Minoru Kihara in 2019
25th Minister of Defense
Assumed office
13 September 2023
Prime MinisterFumio Kishida
Preceded byYasukazu Hamada
Member of the House of Representatives
Assumed office
11 September 2005 - 21 July 2009
18 December 2012
Preceded byYorihisa Matsuno
ConstituencyKyushu PR block
(2005-2009)
Kumamoto 1st district
(2012-present)
Personal details
Born (1969-08-12) 12 August 1969 (age 55)
Kumamoto, Japan
Political partyLiberal Democratic Party
Alma materWaseda University

Minoru Kihara (木原 稔, Kihara Minoru, born August 12, 1969) is a Japanese politician who has served as the Minister of Defense since September 2023. A member of the Liberal Democratic Party, he also serves in the House of Representatives, and was previously the 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] 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.[2] 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.[2]

Minister of Defense

Following a cabinet reshuffle on 13 September 2023, he was appointed minister of defense.[3] Kihara announced on September 15, 2023 that he resigned from a cross-party group that enhances Japan-Taiwan relations.[4]

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.[5] To help meet recruitment goals for Japan's core cyber defense forces, Kihara proposed loosening fitness requirements and offering higher salaries for new recruits.[6]

On May 2, 2024 Kihara met with defense chief counterparts from the United States, Philippines, and Australia in Hawaii.[7] In a series of bilateral, trilateral, and quadrilateral talks Kihara alongside his counterparts reaffirmed commitments to maintaining a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.[8]

Kihara with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in Pentagon, Washington, D.C., 4 October 2023

References

  1. ^ "政治家情報 〜木原 稔〜". Archived from the original on 2007-12-01.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ "Japan's new defense chief quits as pro-Taiwan group senior member".
  5. ^ "Japan-U.S. Defense Ministerial Meeting (Summary)". Ministry of Defence. October 6, 2023. Archived from the original on April 29, 2024. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ Johnson, Jesse (2024-05-03). "With eye on China, defense chiefs agree to bolster interoperability". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
  8. ^ "Defense Minister Kihara's Visit to the United States (Summary)". Ministry of Defense. May 4, 2024. Archived from the original on May 5, 2024. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Defense
2023–present
Incumbent