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A New Japanese Prime Minister: Does It Matter for Japan’s Defense?

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A New Japanese Prime Minister: Does It Matter for Japan’s Defense?
Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during a press conference at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Aug. 14, 2024. Kishida confirmed on Aug. 14 that he will not seek reelection as head of his party next month, meaning the end of his premiership. Philip Fong/AFP via Getty Images
Grant Newsham
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Commentary

Fumio Kishida won’t be Japan’s prime minister after September. Kishida served longer than most—nearly three years. However, Japanese prime ministers, with the exception of the late Shinzo Abe, seem to come and go so often that one might think it isn’t so important who the prime minister actually is.

Grant Newsham
Grant Newsham
Author
Grant Newsham is a retired U.S. Marine officer and a former U.S. diplomat and business executive with many years in the Asia/Pacific region. He is a senior fellow with the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies (Tokyo) and Center for Security Policy and the Yorktown Institute in Washington, D.C. He is the author of the best selling book “When China Attacks: A Warning to America.”