Foreign and METI Ministers return; acting ministers and MEXT proxy appointed

The Official Gazette (Extra Edition) dated September 9, 2026, announced a collective set of personnel changes within the core of the government. In addition to the termination of temporary acting appointments following the return of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Economy, Trade and Industry, and the designation of a temporary acting Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the gazette listed extensive personnel reshuffles spanning the Cabinet Office, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and other agencies, as well as the appointment of members to the Legislative Council.

These notifications and appointments are based on the temporary acting system stipulated in Article 10 of the Cabinet Law and the periodic personnel reshuffles of each ministry and agency, and were officially publicized in the “Personnel Changes” section of the Official Gazette on September 9, 2026. As part of the personnel trends at the center of government, the handover of duties accompanying the overseas travel and return of cabinet ministers, as well as the secondment, concurrent appointments, and transfers of senior officials, were revealed simultaneously.

Termination of Temporary Acting Appointments Following the Return of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Economy, Trade and Industry

Following the return of Minister for Foreign Affairs Toshimitsu Motegi, the designation as a Minister of State to temporarily perform the duties of the Minister for Foreign Affairs under the provisions of Article 10 of the Cabinet Law was revoked. The designation was revoked for Minister of State Minoru Kihara, effective September 4, 2026.

Similarly, following the return of Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Ryosei Akazawa, the designation as a Minister of State to temporarily perform the duties of the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry was revoked. The designation was revoked for Minister of State Yohei Matsumoto, who was also relieved of the administrative proxy duties for the Minister of State for Special Missions (Nuclear Damage Compensation and Decommissioning Facilitation Corporation) (both effective September 6).

Temporary Acting Designation for the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology

During the absence of Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Yohei Matsumoto due to an overseas trip, Minister of State Yoshimasa Hayashi was designated as the Minister of State to temporarily perform the duties of the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in accordance with the provisions of Article 10 of the Cabinet Law. This measure is intended to ensure the continuity of educational administration during the period of the overseas trip.

Personnel Changes in the Cabinet Office, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, etc.

A large number of personnel changes spanning the Cabinet Office, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and others were announced. The main movements are as follows:

• Secondment/Transfer to the Ministry of Finance: Cabinet Office officials Takeshi Goto and Masanobu were seconded to the Ministry of Finance (as of July 21). Ministry of Finance official Keiko Takahashi transferred to the Cabinet Office as an official (Counselor for Basic Budget Formulation Policy), and Asayuki Omori, attached to the Minister’s Secretariat of the Ministry of Finance, transferred to the Cabinet Office as an official (Director of the General Affairs Division, Okinawa Promotion Bureau).
• Personnel Changes with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism: MLIT Technical Official Takashi Ito was promoted to Cabinet Office Technical Official (Deputy Director-General of the Okinawa General Bureau); Cabinet Office Technical Official Kenji Osaka was seconded to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism; MLIT Technical Official Tomohiro Kato transferred to the Cabinet Office as a Technical Official (Counselor for Regional Enhancement); and MLIT Official Yuki Inui was promoted to Cabinet Office Official (Counselor for Promotion I, Okinawa Promotion Bureau).
• Concurrent Appointments/Terminations: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry official Jiko Tsuwaki was concurrently appointed as a Cabinet Office official (Counselor for Important Issues, Secretariat of Science, Technology and Innovation Promotion); Ministry of Finance official Akiko Usui’s concurrent appointment as a Cabinet Office official (Counselor, Secretariat of Health and Medical Strategy Promotion) was terminated.
• National Police Agency Related: Senior Superintendent Yuki Ichihara was concurrently appointed as a Cabinet official (Cabinet Counselor, Cabinet Secretariat) and concurrently appointed to the Cabinet General Affairs Office; Superintendent Masato Yahagi’s concurrent appointment to the Cabinet General Affairs Office was terminated (the above as of September 7).

Appointment of Legislative Council Members and Retirement of Judges

Regarding the Ministry of Justice, Makiko Kawamura and Kazuhiko Yamamoto were appointed as members of the Legislative Council (each as of September 6). Additionally, Kazuaki Ono, Judge of the Nagoya High Court and Judge of the Kanazawa Summary Court, was relieved of his primary and concurrent posts upon request (as of September 7).

Impact on Readers

This announcement collectively indicates the handover of duties accompanying the overseas travel and return of cabinet ministers, as well as executive personnel changes at the core of the government, serving as an official record to ensure administrative continuity and personnel transparency. The “Personnel Changes” section of the Official Gazette is the most reliable primary source for tracking trends in secondments, concurrent appointments, transfers, and promotions across various ministries and agencies.

Source: Official Gazette (Extra Edition) dated September 9, Reiwa 8, “Personnel Changes” section (20260909h017860008, 20260909h017860009). Contains notifications of temporary proxies based on Article 10 of the Cabinet Act, personnel changes in the Cabinet Office, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, etc., and appointments of Legislative Council members.