controversial at the Ministry of Defence, due mostly to his tenure in the initial days of its creation. Should he return to power and propose major security policies that the Self-Defence Forces perceive as inimical to their interests, the stage could well be set for a clash between them and the Prime Minister. Newly-appointed Defence Minister Gen

Challenges to his premiership may come from the Japan Self-Defence Forces (JSDF) as well. Though a self-professed ‘military geek’15 (?????, gunji otaku) who claims to have detailed knowledge of weapons platforms and legal issues relating to militaries, his appointment to the premiership has been met by visible disappointment, verging on conster

Ishiba will find it difficult to convince powerful constituencies that he would take care of their interests, which may stymie cooperation on key policy pronouncements after his re-election Internally within the party, Ishiba’s selection of loyalists and supporters to his Cabinet has created a visible rift between the far-right and the centre-rig