Minoru Kihara
Japanese politician (born 1969)
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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.
Minoru Kihara | |
|---|---|
木原 稔 | |
Official portrait, 2023 | |
| Chief Cabinet Secretary | |
| Assumed office 21 October 2025 | |
| Prime Minister | Sanae Takaichi |
| Preceded by | Yoshimasa Hayashi |
| Minister of Defense | |
| In office 13 September 2023 – 1 October 2024 | |
| Prime Minister | Fumio Kishida |
| Preceded by | Yasukazu Hamada |
| Succeeded by | Gen Nakatani |
| Member of the House of Representatives | |
| Assumed office 18 December 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Yorihisa Matsuno |
| Constituency | Kumamoto 1st |
| In office 11 September 2005 – 21 July 2009 | |
| Constituency | Kyushu PR |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 12 August 1969 Kumamoto, Japan |
| Party | Liberal Democratic |
| Alma mater | Waseda University |
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]
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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]