PM Kishida Delivers Presser On Cabinet Reshuffle

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is delivering a presser following a Cabinet reshuffle intended to boost the gov'ts flagging approval ratings and distance his administration from ministers with links to the controversial Unification Church.

• Link to livestream (in Japanese): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NglIlP9gi6U
• Earlier today, MNI published a bullet with broadcaster NHK's list of Cabinet changes. Link here: https://marketnews.com/nhk-circulates-list-of-expe...
• An opinion poll released earlier this week by NHK showed approval for Kishida's Cabinet falling to 46%, from 59% previously.
• Japanese politicians' links to the Unification Church, founded by South Korean preacher Sun Myung Moon in 1954, has come under scrutiny in recent weeks following the assassination of former PM Shinzo Abe. Abe's killer has stated that he targeted Abe over his suspected links to the church, which he hated after his mother made financially ruinous donations to the organisation.
• The new Cabinet sees veteran faces return, with former Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada re-taking the ministry, and Kishida's LDP leadership opponent Taro Kono returning to Cabinet as minister for Digital Transformation.
• Reshuffle also seen as an attempt to quell potential splits within the LDP. Given the size of the party, effectively managing the various factions loyal to various politicians and ideological wings are crucially important in retaining overall support for the PM. The Abe faction (the largest in the LDP), now leaderless, is seen as restless and at risk of internal divisions.