{{short description|Japanese politician (born 1969)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}} {{For|the television personality|Minoru Kihara (television personality)}} {{Eastern name order|Kihara Minoru}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Minoru Kihara | native_name = {{nobold|木原 稔}} | native_name_lang = ja | image = Minoru Kihara 20230914.jpg | caption = Official portrait, 2023 | office = Chief Cabinet Secretary | prime_minister = Sanae Takaichi | term_start = 21 October 2025 | term_end = | predecessor = Yoshimasa Hayashi | successor = | office1 = Minister of Defense | prime_minister1 = Fumio Kishida | term_start1 = 13 September 2023 | term_end1 = 1 October 2024 | predecessor1 = Yasukazu Hamada | successor1 = Gen Nakatani | office2 = Member of the House of Representatives | constituency2 = Kumamoto 1st | term_start2 = 18 December 2012 | term_end2 = | predecessor2 = Yorihisa Matsuno | successor2 = | constituency3 = Kyushu PR | term_start3 = 11 September 2005 | term_end3 = 21 July 2009 | predecessor3 = | successor3 = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|8|12|df=y}} | birth_place = Kumamoto, Japan | party = Liberal Democratic | alma_mater = Waseda University }} {{nihongo|'''Minoru Kihara'''|木原 稔|Kihara Minoru|extra=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.
== 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.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.senkyo.janjan.jp/diet/profile/0008/00008326.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071201034816/http://www.senkyo.janjan.jp/diet/profile/0008/00008326.html | archive-date=2007-12-01 | title=政治家情報 〜木原 稔〜 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=KIHARA Minoru (The Cabinet) |url=https://japan.kantei.go.jp/101_kishida/meibo/daijin/kihara_minoru_e.html |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=Prime Minister's Office of Japan |language=en}}</ref>
Kihara is considered a pro-Taiwan MP.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-13 |title=Japan's Kishida taps pro-Taiwan MP as new defence minister in cabinet shake-up |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3234364/japans-kishida-taps-pro-taiwan-mp-new-defence-minister-cabinet-shake |access-date=2024-05-09 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Murakami |first=Sakura |date=14 September 2023 |title=Japan's new cabinet reflects PM's focus on gender and defence |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/japan-pm-include-five-women-cabinet-media-2023-09-13/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240509161552/https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/japan-pm-include-five-women-cabinet-media-2023-09-13/ |archive-date=9 May 2024 |access-date=9 May 2024 |website=Reuters}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2023-09-14 |title=Japan's Kishida taps pro-Taiwan politician as defense minister {{!}} Taiwan News {{!}} Sep. 14, 2023 15:43 |url=https://taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4998751 |access-date=2024-05-09 |website=taiwannews.com.tw |language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-09-01 |title=Japan and Taiwan to begin talks on evacuation plans amid China's threats |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/09/01/national/japan-taiwan-evacuation-talks/ |access-date=2024-05-03 |website=The Japan Times |language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":0" />
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.<ref name=":2" />
=== Minister of Defense === Following a cabinet reshuffle on 13 September 2023, he was appointed minister of defense.<ref>{{Cite web |last=INC |first=SANKEI DIGITAL |date=2023-09-13 |title=第２次岸田再改造内閣の閣僚名簿発表 |url=https://www.sankei.com/article/20230913-OWNZ2Z2IEVOJ7EZYLE2WXDWBV4/ |access-date=2024-05-04 |website=産経新聞：産経ニュース |language=ja}}</ref> Kihara announced on 15 September 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.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/09/3d1c86d3ffa4-japans-new-defense-chief-quits-as-pro-taiwan-group-senior-member.html | title=Japan's new defense chief quits as pro-Taiwan group senior member | date=15 September 2023 }}</ref>
On 3 October 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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 October 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.today/20240429223705/https://www.mod.go.jp/en/article/2023/10/41f53aa84afe7d9b1e12f41fe7e3e8de59df8aa7.html |archive-date=29 April 2024 |access-date=29 April 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 |last1=Kaneko |first1=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>
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.”<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Jesse |date=2023-10-16 |title=Defense chief retracts comments implying LDP vote would be good for SDF |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/10/16/japan/politics/minoru-kihara-sdf-ldp-election/ |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=The Japan Times |language=en}}</ref> Critics claimed that Kihara had used the SDF for political purposes, and had violated its political neutrality.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-10-18 |title=Defense minister's miscue is an opening for the opposition |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2023/10/18/japan/japan-defense-ministers-miscue/ |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=The Japan Times |language=en}}</ref> Kihara later retracted his remarks for causing a "misunderstanding".<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Defense Chief Retracts Remark Linking Vote for LDP to SDF |url=https://sp.m.jiji.com/english/show/29031 |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=時事通信ニュース |language=ja}}</ref>
On 2 May 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=4 May 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.today/20240505142406/https://www.mod.go.jp/en/article/2024/05/f62d350215c24733ac509ec2514a99c231781e4a.html |archive-date=5 May 2024 |access-date=5 May 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]]
=== Chief Cabinet Secretary === On 21 October 2025, Kihara was appointed Chief Cabinet Secretary by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, replacing Yoshimasa Hayashi.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-xl/news/other/japans-first-female-pm-takaichi-names-cabinet-with-rival-koizumi-as-defense-chief/ar-AA1OS60J?ocid=BingNewsVerp|title=Takaichi's Cabinet Names Rival Koizumi as Defense Minister|publisher=MSN|accessdate=21 October 2025|date=21 October 2025}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Japan demands response from Finland over beauty queen’s ‘slanted eyes’ photos|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3336883/japan-demands-response-finland-over-beauty-queens-slanted-eyes-photos|work=South China Morning Post|date=18 December 2025|access-date=18 December 2025}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official website|http://kiharaminoru.jp/}} in Japanese.
{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=Yasukazu Hamada}} {{s-ttl|title=Minister of Defense | years=2023–2024}} {{s-aft|after=Gen Nakatani}} {{s-bef|before=Yoshimasa Hayashi}} {{s-ttl|title=Chief Cabinet Secretary | years=2025–present}} {{s-aft|after=Incumbent}} {{s-end}} {{Cabinet Takaichi}}
{{Japanese defense ministers}} {{Cabinet Kishida II (R2)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kihara, Minoru}} Category:1969 births Category:Living people Category:People from Kumamoto Category:Waseda University alumni Category:Japan Airlines Category:Koizumi Children Category:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan) politicians Category:Chief cabinet secretaries of Japan Category:Members of the House of Representatives (Japan) 2005–2009 Category:Members of the House of Representatives (Japan) 2012–2014 Category:Members of the House of Representatives (Japan) 2014–2017 Category:Members of the House of Representatives (Japan) 2017–2021 Category:Members of the House of Representatives (Japan) 2021–2024 Category:Members of the House of Representatives (Japan) 2024–2026 Category:Members of the House of Representatives (Japan) 2026–