Kan Cabinet

The Kan Cabinet was the cabinet governing Japan from June 2010 to September 2011 under the leadership of Prime Minister Naoto Kan, who came into power after winning the DPJ leadership election in June 2010. The Kan Cabinet oversaw the response to the aftermath of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami and the scaling-down of Japan's nuclear energy dependence following the nuclear disaster at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

Kan Cabinet
94th Cabinet of Japan
Prime Minister Naoto Kan (front row, centre) with the newly-elected cabinet inside the Kantei, June 8, 2010
Date formed	June 8, 2010
Date dissolved	September 17, 2010
People and organisations
Head of state	Emperor Akihito
Head of government	Naoto Kan
Member party	DPJ–PNP Coalition
Status in legislature	HoR: DPJ–PNP Coalition majority HoC: DPJ–PNP Coalition majority, minority from July 2010
Opposition party	Liberal Democratic Party of Japan
Opposition leader	Sadakazu Tanigaki
History
Election	2010 councillors election
Predecessor	Hatoyama Cabinet
Successor	Kan Cabinet (First Reshuffle)

Political background

The previous Prime Minister and DPJ president, Yukio Hatoyama resigned on 2 June 2010 on the background of an unpopular deal with the United States to retain the American military base in Okinawa and the DPJ's low poll numbers. Hatoyama's resignation triggered a DPJ presidential election, which was won by Finance Minister Naoto Kan. On 8 June, Kan was formally appointed by the Emperor as Japan's 94th Prime Minister.^[1] The new prime minister conducted a cabinet reshuffle and promoted some senior party members to important portfolios, notable Yoshihiko Noda to the Ministry of Finance and Yoshito Sengoku to the Cabinet Secretariat. Kan became the second DPJ prime minister in just eight months.

In spite of a temporary recovery in approval ratings, the government lost its majority in the House of Councillors in the July 2010 election and was subsequently dependent on parts of the opposition for getting any bill through the now-divided Diet.

His government poorly handled the response to the massive earthquake and tsunami in northeast Japan. The following nuclear accidents at private utility company TEPCO's nuclear power plant in Fukushima spurred the government to change the course of Japan's energy policy. Reversing the pro-nuclear policy of the previous administrations, Kan's government pushed for a conversion to renewable energy and eventual shut-down of Japan's nuclear plants.^[2] Japan's nuclear power plants were completely shut down by May 2012, leaving Japan without nuclear-generated electricity for the first time since 1970.^[3] Several of the plants were only brought back online after the DPJ was no longer in government. The LDP government led by Shinzo Abe gradually reopened the nuclear plants, starting with Sendai Nuclear Power Plant in Kyushu in August 2015. The restart has been slow due to legal challenges and heavy domestic opposition.^[4]

Election of the prime minister

4 June 2010

House of Representatives Absolute majority (239/477) required
Choice		Vote
		Caucuses	Votes
	YNaoto Kan	DPJ (309), PNP (3), Independent [Speaker] (1)	313 / 477
	Sadakazu Tanigaki	LDP (115), Independent [Vice Speaker] (1)	116 / 477
	Natsuo Yamaguchi	Kōmeitō (21)	21 / 477
	Kazuo Shii	JCP (9)	9 / 477
	Mizuho Fukushima	Social Democratic Party of Japan (7)	7 / 477
	Yoshimi Watanabe	Your Party (5)	5 / 477
	Takeo Hiranuma	Sunrise Party (3), Hiranuma Group independents (2)	5 / 477
	Yōichi Masuzoe	Independent (1)	1 / 477
	Did not vote	Independent (2), DPJ (1)	3 / 480
Source: 174th Diet Session (House of Representatives) (roll call only lists individual votes, not grouped by caucus)

4 June 2010

House of Councillors Absolute majority (119/237) required
Choice		Vote
		Caucuses	Votes
	YNaoto Kan	DPJーShin-RyokufūkaiーPNP (122), Independent (1)	123 / 237
	Sadakazu Tanigaki	LDP (68), Independent [Yasuhiro Ōe and Tamon Hasegawa] (2), Independent [Vice President] (1)	71 / 237
	Natsuo Yamaguchi	Kōmeitō (21)	21 / 237
	Kazuo Shii	JCP (7)	7 / 237
	Mizuho Fukushima	Social Democratic Party of Japan (5), Independent (1)	6 / 237
	Yōichi Masuzoe	New Renaissance Party (6)	6 / 237
	Takeo Hiranuma	Sunrise Party (2)	2 / 237
	Yoshimi Watanabe	Independent (1)	1 / 237
	Did not vote	LDP (2), HRP (1), Independent [President] (1)	4 / 242
	Vacant		1 / 242
Source: 174th Diet Session (House of Councillors) (lists individual votes grouped by caucus)

Lists of ministers

  Democratic
  People's New
  Independent
R = Member of the House of Representatives
C = Member of the House of Councillors
N = Non-Diet member
Italics denote acting minister

Cabinet

Kan Cabinet from June 8 to September 17, 2010

Portfolio	Minister			Term
Prime Minister		Naoto Kan	R	June 8 – September 17, 2010
Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications Minister of State for Promotion of Local Sovereignty		Kazuhiro Haraguchi	R	June 8 – September 17, 2010
Minister of Justice		Keiko Chiba	C → N	June 8 – September 17, 2010
Minister of Foreign Affairs		Katsuya Okada	R	June 8 – September 17, 2010
Minister of Finance		Yoshihiko Noda	R	June 8 – September 17, 2010
Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy		Tatsuo Kawabata	R	June 8 – September 17, 2010
Minister of Health, Labour, and Welfare Minister of State for Pension Reform		Akira Nagatsuma	R	June 8 – September 17, 2010
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries		Masahiko Yamada	R	June 8 – September 17, 2010
Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry		Masayuki Naoshima	C	June 8 – September 17, 2010
Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister of State for Okinawa and Northern Territories Affairs		Seiji Maehara	R	June 8 – September 17, 2010
Minister of the Environment		Sakihito Ozawa	R	June 8 – September 17, 2010
Minister of Defence		Toshimi Kitazawa	C	June 8 – September 17, 2010
Chief Cabinet Secretary		Yoshito Sengoku	R	June 8 – September 17, 2010
Chairman of the National Public Safety Commission Minister of State for Disaster Management		Hiroshi Nakai	R	June 8 – September 17, 2010
Minister of State for Financial Services Minister of State for Postal Reform		Shizuka Kamei	R	June 8–11, 2010
		Yoshito Sengoku	R	June 11, 2010
		Shōzaburō Jimi	C	June 11 – September 17, 2010
Minister of State for Consumer Affairs and Food Safety Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy		Satoshi Arai	R	June 8 – September 17, 2010
Minister of State for Measures for Declining Birthrate Minister of State for Gender Equality Minister of State for the New Public Commons		Koichiro Genba	R	June 8 – September 17, 2010
Minister of State for Promotion of Local Sovereignty		Kazuhiro Haraguchi	R	June 8 – September 17, 2010
Minister of State for Government Revitalization		Renho	C	June 8 – September 17, 2010

First reshuffled cabinet

Kan Cabinet (First Reshuffle)
94th Cabinet of Japan
Prime Minister Naoto Kan (front row, centre) with his reshuffled cabinet inside the Kantei, September 17, 2010
Date formed	September 17, 2010
Date dissolved	January 14, 2011
People and organisations
Head of state	Emperor Akihito
Head of government	Naoto Kan
Member party	DPJ–PNP Coalition
Status in legislature	HoR: DPJ–PNP Coalition majority HoC: DPJ–PNP Coalition majority, minority from July 2010
Opposition party	Liberal Democratic Party of Japan
Opposition leader	Sadakazu Tanigaki
History
Election	2010 councillors election
Predecessor	Kan Cabinet
Successor	Kan Cabinet (Second Reshuffle)

Kan Cabinet from September 17, 2010, to January 14, 2011

Portfolio	Minister			Term
Prime Minister		Naoto Kan	R	September 17, 2010 – January 14, 2011
Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications Minister of State for Promotion of Local Sovereignty		Yoshihiro Katayama	N	September 17, 2010 – January 14, 2011
Minister of Justice		Minoru Yanagida	C	September 17 – November 22, 2010
		Yoshito Sengoku	R	November 22, 2010 – January 14, 2011
Minister of Foreign Affairs		Seiji Maehara	R	September 17, 2010 – January 14, 2011
Minister of Finance		Yoshihiko Noda	R	September 17, 2010 – January 14, 2011
Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology		Yoshiaki Takaki	R	September 17, 2010 – January 14, 2011
Minister of Health, Labour, and Welfare Minister of State for Pension Reform		Ritsuo Hosokawa	R	September 17, 2010 – January 14, 2011
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries		Michihiko Kano	R	September 17, 2010 – January 14, 2011
Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry		Akihiro Ohata	R	September 17, 2010 – January 14, 2011
Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister of State for Okinawa and Northern Territories Affairs		Sumio Mabuchi	R	September 17, 2010 – January 14, 2011
Minister of the Environment Minister of State for Disaster Management		Ryu Matsumoto	R	September 17, 2010 – January 14, 2011
Minister of Defence		Toshimi Kitazawa	C	September 17, 2010 – January 14, 2011
Chief Cabinet Secretary		Yoshito Sengoku	R	September 17, 2010 – January 14, 2011
Chairman of the National Public Safety Commission Minister of State for Consumer Affairs and Food Safety Minister of State for Measures for Declining Birthrate Minister of State for Gender Equality		Tomiko Okazaki	R	September 17, 2010 – January 14, 2011
Minister of State for Financial Services Minister of State for Postal Reform		Shōzaburō Jimi	C	September 17, 2010 – January 14, 2011
Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy		Banri Kaieda	R	September 17, 2010 – January 14, 2011
Minister of State for the New Public Commons		Koichiro Genba	R	September 17, 2010 – January 14, 2011
Minister of State for Government Revitalization		Renho	C	September 17, 2010 – January 14, 2011

Second reshuffled cabinet

Kan Cabinet (Second Reshuffle)
94th Cabinet of Japan
Prime Minister Naoto Kan (front row, centre) with his reshuffled cabinet inside the Kantei, January 14, 2011
Date formed	January 14, 2011
Date dissolved	September 2, 2011
People and organisations
Head of state	Emperor Akihito
Head of government	Naoto Kan
Member party	DPJ–PNP Coalition
Status in legislature	HoR: DPJ–PNP Coalition majority HoC: DPJ–PNP Coalition majority, minority from July 2010
Opposition party	Liberal Democratic Party of Japan
Opposition leader	Sadakazu Tanigaki
History
Election	2010 councillors election
Predecessor	Kan Cabinet (First Reshuffle)
Successor	Noda Cabinet

Kan Cabinet from January 14 to September 2, 2011

Portfolio	Minister			Term
Prime Minister		Naoto Kan	R	January 14 – September 2, 2011
Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications Minister of State for Promotion of Local Sovereignty		Yoshihiro Katayama	N	January 14 – September 2, 2011
Minister of Justice		Satsuki Eda	C	January 14 – September 2, 2011
Minister of Foreign Affairs		Seiji Maehara	R	January 14 – March 7, 2011
		Yukio Edano	R	March 7–9, 2011
		Takeaki Matsumoto	R	March 9 – September 2, 2011
Minister of Finance		Yoshihiko Noda	R	January 14 – September 2, 2011
Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology		Yoshiaki Takaki	R	January 14 – September 2, 2011
Minister of Health, Labour, and Welfare Minister of State for Pension Reform		Ritsuo Hosokawa	R	January 14 – September 2, 2011
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries		Michihiko Kano	R	January 14 – September 2, 2011
Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry		Banri Kaieda	R	January 14 – September 2, 2011
Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism		Akihiro Ohata	R	January 14 – September 2, 2011
Minister of the Environment		Ryu Matsumoto	R	January 14 – June 27, 2011
		Satsuki Eda	R	June 27 – September 2, 2011
Minister of Defence		Toshimi Kitazawa	C	January 14 – September 2, 2011
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minister of State for Okinawa and Northern Territories Affairs		Yukio Edano	R	January 14 – September 2, 2011
Chairman of the National Public Safety Commission Minister for the Abduction Issue		Kansei Nakano	R	January 14 – September 2, 2011
Minister of State for Disaster Management		Ryu Matsumoto	R	January 14 – July 7, 2011
		Tatsuo Hirano	C	July 7 – September 2, 2011
Minister of State for Financial Services Minister of State for Postal Reform		Shōzaburō Jimi	C	January 14 – September 2, 2011
Minister of State for Consumer Affairs and Food Safety		Renho	C	January 14 – June 27, 2011
		Goshi Hosono	R	June 27 – September 2, 2011
Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister of State for Measures for Declining Birthrate Minister of State for Gender Equality Minister for Total Reform of Social Security and Tax		Kaoru Yosano	R	January 14 – September 2, 2011
Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy Minister of State for the New Public Commons Minister for Space Policy		Koichiro Genba	R	September 17, 2010 – January 14, 2011
Minister of State for Government Revitalization		Renho	C	January 14 – June 27, 2011
		Yukio Edano	R	June 27 – September 2, 2011
Minister of State for the Corporation in Support of Compensation for Nuclear Damage Minister for Power Saving Promotion Minister for the Restoration from and Prevention of Nuclear Accident		Goshi Hosono	R	August 10 – September 2, 2011

References

1. "Kan elected prime minister". Asahi Shimbun. 4 June 2010. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
2. Yamaguchi, Mari; Foster, Malcolm (17 February 2012). "Ex-PM: Japan was unprepared for nuke crisis". Boston.com. Associated Press.
3. David Batty (May 5, 2012). "Japan shuts down last working nuclear reactor". The Guardian.
4. "Governor states firm opposition to Hamaoka plant restart". Asahi Shimbun. 29 June 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2017.

External links

• List of Ministers of the Kan Cabinet - Prime Minister's Office (Kantei)