On her first morning as Prime Minister...

Reporter: May I ask you a few questions?

Takaichi Sanae, Prime Minister of Japan: Due to the missile incident, we have had to alter our schedule, so we shall reconvene later.

On the morning of October 22, North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles towards the Sea of Japan.

Takaichi was immediately caught up in dealing with the situation. When she returned about 25 minutes later...

Takaichi Sanae, Prime Minister of Japan: No missiles have been confirmed to have entered our territorial waters or exclusive economic zone.

Takaichi reported the situation, her breathing slightly uneven.

A missile threat confronting Japan was thrust upon the Prime Minister so soon after taking office. How will the Takaichi cabinet tackle this issue?

During her inaugural press conference on the evening of October 21, when she mentioned North Korea...

Takaichi Sanae, Prime Minister of Japan: Regarding our response to North Korea, Japan, the United States, and South Korea will proceed firmly from a strategic perspective.

Takaichi expressed her intention to develop stable relations with South Korea and to work together with the United States in addressing matters.

In response to the question that concerns have been raised in some quarters that Japan-South Korea relations will deteriorate following Takaichi's appointment...

Takaichi Sanae, Prime Minister of Japan: I understand there are concerns, but I absolutely adore South Korean seaweed. I use South Korean cosmetics too. I also watch South Korean dramas.

The remark was covered by a major South Korean newspaper, with the Chosun Ilbo reporting: ‘President Lee Jae-myung continued making anti-Japanese remarks when he was in opposition but changed after becoming president. Similarly, Prime Minister Takaichi will likely change too.’

Meanwhile, at the Ministry of Defense, a ceremony to welcome the newly appointed Minister was held on October 22.

Koizumi Shinjiro has been appointed as the Minister of Defense. 

Koizumi, who places emphasis on communication, also shared information on social media regarding the missile launch on the morning of October 22.

Koizumi Shinjiro social media: No information regarding damage reports from relevant organizations has been confirmed.

Koizumi Shinjiro, Minister of Defense: We are working closely with South Korea and others, undertaking necessary intelligence gathering and analysis, and ensuring a thorough response.

Furthermore, it has been revealed that in her policy address, Prime Minister Takaichi announced plans to begin deliberations aimed at revising the so-called three security-related documents, including the National Security Strategy, by the end of 2026 to achieve a fundamental strengthening of defense capabilities. 

She also stated that the government's policy to bring forward the implementation of the current target of raising defense spending and related expenditure to 2% of the GDP by fiscal 2027, incorporating this into the supplementary budget for the current fiscal year.

The ministers of the Takaichi cabinet will tackle not only national defense but also the various challenges facing Japan.

Katayama Satsuki, who became Japan's first female Minister of Finance, took over from Kato Katsunobu, with whom she had worked under during her time as a bureaucrat at the finance ministry.

Katayama Satsuki, Minister of Finance: Kato, the kanji for your name has a lot of strokes, doesn’t it?

Kato Katsunobu, former Minister of Finance: Because the characters are similar, I sometimes get them mixed up.

They did seem to have a pleasant interaction.

The other female cabinet minister, Onoda Kimi, is the Minister of State for Economic Security and  and the newly established Minister in charge of a Society of Well-Ordered and Harmonious Coexistence with Foreign Nationals.

Onoda Kimi, Minister in charge of Economic Security: We intend to advance a comprehensive review as a unified government, addressing issues including strict measures against those who disregard the rules and the need to revise systems and policies that are currently inadequate in responding to the prevailing situation concerning foreign nationals. I apologize. I have spoken at length...

Moreover, concerning personnel appointments, ministers and parliamentary secretaries were appointed to various ministries and agencies, including those who had failed to declare their involvement in the so-called slush fund scandal.

The four Deputy Ministers are Horii Iwao, Nemoto Yukinori, Sasaki Hajime, and Sakai Yasuyuki. 

Three individuals were also appointed as Parliamentary Secretaries.

The non-listed members of parliament, whose appointments had been postponed under the Kishida and Ishiba administrations, have now been reinstated. 

This is likely to become a source of contention in the Diet going forward.