Fumio Kishida

Fumio Kishida (岸田 文雄, Kishida Fumio, born 29 July 1957) is a Japanese politician. Kishida was the Prime Minister of Japan from 4 October 2021 until 1 October 2024. In September 2021, he was elected President of the conservative Liberal Democratic Party. He was Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan from 2012 to 2017 during the Shinzo Abe government.^[1] Kishida was elected to the House of Representatives in 1993.

His Excellency Fumio Kishida
岸田 文雄
Official portrait, 2021
Prime Minister of Japan
In office 4 October 2021 – 1 October 2024
Monarch	Naruhito
Preceded by	Yoshihide Suga
Succeeded by	Shigeru Ishiba
President of the Liberal Democratic Party
In office 29 September 2021 – 27 September 2024
Vice President	Tarō Asō
Secretary-General	Akira Amari Toshimitsu Motegi
Preceded by	Yoshihide Suga
Succeeded by	Shigeru Ishiba
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Acting 4 November 2021 – 10 November 2021
Prime Minister	Himself
Preceded by	Toshimitsu Motegi
Succeeded by	Yoshimasa Hayashi
In office 26 December 2012 – 3 August 2017
Prime Minister	Shinzō Abe
Preceded by	Kōichirō Genba
Succeeded by	Tarō Kōno
Minister of Defense
Acting
In office 28 July 2017 – 3 August 2017
Prime Minister	Shinzō Abe
Preceded by	Tomomi Inada
Succeeded by	Itsunori Onodera
Junior ministerial offices Minister of State for Okinawa and the Northern Territories In office 27 August 2007 – 1 August 2008 Prime Minister Shinzō Abe Yasuo Fukuda Preceded by Sanae Takaichi Succeeded by Motoo Hayashi Minister of State for Space In office 6 February 2008 – 1 August 2008 Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda Preceded by Office created Succeeded by Seiko Noda Minister of State for Consumers In office 18 June 2008 – 1 August 2008 Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda Preceded by Office created Succeeded by Seiko Noda Minister of State for Regulatory Reform In office 27 August 2007 – 1 August 2008 Prime Minister Shinzō Abe Yasuo Fukuda Preceded by Yoshimi Watanabe Succeeded by Kaoru Yosano Minister of State for Science, Technology and Quality of Life In office 27 August 2007 – 1 August 2008 Prime Minister Shinzō Abe Yasuo Fukuda Preceded by Office created Succeeded by Seiko Noda
Member of the House of Representatives from Hiroshima
Incumbent
Assumed office 20 October 1996
Preceded by	Constituency established
Constituency	1st district
Majority	117,800 (71.1%)
In office 18 July 1993 – September 27, 1996
Constituency	Former 1st district (Elect Four)
Personal details
Born	岸田文雄 (Kishida Fumio) (1957-07-29) 29 July 1957 (age 67) Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan
Political party	Liberal Democratic
Spouse(s)	Yuko Kishida ​ (m. 1988)​
Children	3
Education	Kaisei Academy
Alma mater	Waseda University (LLB)
Signature

In August 2024, following poor polling numbers, Kishida announced that he would not run for reelection in September for the Liberal Democratic Party leadership.

Early life

Kishida was born in Shibuya, Tokyo on 29 July 1957.^[2][3][4] He spent his early years in New York City.^[5]

Kishida studied law at Waseda University and graduated in 1982.^[6]

Political career

He is a member of the House of Representatives for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) since 1993. He served in Yasuo Fukuda's cabinet as minister of state for Okinawa and northern territories affairs, science and technology policy, quality-of-life policy, and regulatory Reform. He became the longest-serving foreign minister in postwar history, unseating Abe's father Shintaro Abe.^[7] In 2017, for a short time he was the Minister of Defense.

Leadership campaigns

Kishida thought about running in the 2018 LDP presidential election; but Prime Minister Shinzo Abe talked him into not to run and promised to support him as his replacement in the future.^[8] He ran in the 2020 LDP presidential election; however lost to Yoshihide Suga who was very popular among LDP politicians.^[9]

Prime Minister

In August 2020, he announced his candidacy for the Liberal Democratic leadership election to replace Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.^[10] He lost the election on 14 September to Yoshihide Suga, coming in second place. In August 2021, he announced his candidacy for the Liberal Democratic leadership again in the 2021 election. He won the leadership election on 29 September 2021.^[11]

Kishida officially became the 100th Prime Minister on 4 October 2021 after being elected by the National Diet. He set the date of the 2021 election for 31 October shortly before taking office.^[12] During the general election, the Liberal Democratic party lost fifteen seats in the House of Representatives; however still won the majority of seats.^[13][14]

On 15 April 2023, a man threw an explosive device at Kishida during a campaign event in Wakayama. The device exploded after a short delay during which Kishida was removed from the scene unharmed.^[15] The event took place nine months after former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated.^[16][17]

His cabinet and time as prime minister is very unpopular with the public. Polling and approval numbers have shown that Kishida is the most unpopular prime minister since the LDP's return to power in 2012.^[18][19][20] In early November 2023, a Jiji Press survey showed his cabinet's approval rating falling to 21.3%, the lowest since Tarō Asō in 2008.^[21] It further fell to 17.1% in December.^[22]

On 13 August 2024, Kishida announced that he would step down as LDP party leader and not run for reelection, in September.^[23][24] On 27 September 2024, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba was elected as his replacement.^[25]

Personal life

Kishida is married to Yuko Kishida and has two children.^{[26] [27]}

References

1. "Profile: Foreign Minister Kishida boasts background in Okinawa affairs". House of Japan. 27 December 2012. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
2. Akimoto, Daisuke (7 September 2021). "The Arrival of Kishida Diplomacy?". The Diplomat. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
3. "Fumio Kishida". Kante'. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
4. "Profiles". The Japan Times. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
5. "Japan's Next Prime Minister: Who Are the Candidates to Succeed Yoshihide Suga?". Wall Street Journal. 2021-09-03. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
6. Reynolds, Isabel (2017-07-20). "Abe's Low-Key Foreign Minister Watched as Potential Rival". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2020-08-29.
7. Bosack, Michael (2018-07-09). "Will Kishida Challenge Abe's Leadership?". Tokyo Review. Retrieved 2020-08-29.
8. "Doubts grow in LDP over Fumio Kishida's ability to succeed Abe". The Japan Times. 2020-07-20. Archived from the original on 2020-08-29. Retrieved 2020-08-29.
9. Bosack, Michael MacArthur (2020-09-16). "Breaking down Suga's picks for his first Cabinet". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on 2020-09-18. Retrieved 2020-09-16.
10. "Suga front-runner in Japan's LDP race as grassroots members excluded from vote". Mainichi Daily News. 1 September 2020. Archived from the original on 1 September 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
11. "Fumio Kishida to Become Japan's Next Prime Minister After Party Election Win". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
12. Lies, Elaine (3 October 2021). "In surprise move, new Japan PM to call Oct 31 election - NHK". Reuters.
13. 【選挙ライブ】2021衆議院選挙 開票速報ーー政党・注目候補の動きライブで (in Japanese), retrieved 2021-10-31
14. "Japan's Ruling Coalition Poised to Keep Power Despite Losses". Bloomberg.com. 2021-10-31. Retrieved 2021-10-31.
15. "Japan PM Kishida unhurt after explosion during campaigning". Kyodo News+. Retrieved 2023-04-15.
16. Jozuka, Emi; Ogura, Junko (2023-04-15). "Man arrested after explosion prompts evacuation of Japanese leader Fumio Kishida from speech venue". CNN. Retrieved 2023-04-15.
17. "Man charged over attempt to assassinate Japanese prime minister". The Independent. 2023-09-06. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
18. "Japan is tired of Prime Minister Kishida, a man who tries too hard". Australian Financial Review. 2023-12-13. Archived from the original on 2023-12-13. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
19. Reidy, Gearoid (2023-11-07). "Kishida is so unpopular, he can't even give money away". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on 2023-11-07. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
20. "Kishida among most unpopular Japanese prime ministers ever, new polls show". South China Morning Post. 2023-12-18. Archived from the original on 2023-12-18. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
21. Editorial Board, Japan Times (24 November 2023). "Kishida is in trouble, but he'll survive — for now". The Japan Times. Japan Times. Archived from the original on 24 November 2023. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
22. Sugiyama, Satoshi. "Japan PM Kishida's cabinet approval hits record low at 17.1% - Jiji". Jiji. Reuters. Archived from the original on 14 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
23. "Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will not run for party reelection". CNBC. 2024-08-14. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
24. Lee, Michelle Ye Hee; Inuma, Julia Mio (2024-08-14). "Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida says he will step down next month". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
25. "Shigeru Ishiba is set to become Japan's next prime minister after winning ruling party leadership election". CNBC. 27 September 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
26. "Japan PM hopeful Kishida slammed over 'wife maid' Twitter photo, as Suga makes bid". SCMP. 2 September 2020. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
27. "JAPAN'S NEW PRIME MINISTER FUMIO KISHIDA: HIS WIFE, A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN, AND HER CHILDREN ARE VERY GOOD". Huaglad. October 2021. Archived from the original on 4 October 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.

Other websites

• Official Website
• MOFA Official Website (in English)
• Twitter
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• YouTube