Japan’s Takaichi opts for stability in first reshuffle since taking over LDP

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is expected to retain many of her Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) executives on Wednesday, in her first reshuffle since taking the helm of the ruling party about a year ago.

Takaichi is likely to keep the influential former prime minister Taro Aso as vice-president and his brother-in-law, Shunichi Suzuki, as secretary general, sources familiar with the matter have said, as she seeks to maintain continuity ahead of what is likely to be a packed legislative agenda into the end of the year.

Policy chief Takayuki Kobayashi is also expected to stay on, according to the sources.

Takaichi won the LDP’s presidential contest on October 4, 2025, and became the country’s first female prime minister later the same month.