Fumio Kishida
Fumio Kishida was born on the 29th of July 1957 in Shibuya, Tokyo. His father Fumitake Kishida worked as a government official for the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. The family returned to Hiroshima every summer because they originated from that region. Many members of the Kishida family had died during the atomic bombing by the United States. Fumio grew up hearing stories from the atomic bomb survivors who lived through the tragedy. He attended elementary school in New York City while his father held a posting there. He went to P.S. 020 John Bowne elementary school in Flushing, Queens first. Later he transferred to P.S. 013 Clement C. Moore elementary school in Elmhurst, Queens. This experience gave him a unique perspective on life between two cultures before he entered politics.
Kishida began working at the now-defunct Long-Term Credit Bank of Japan after university. He then served as a secretary to his father Fumitake Kishida who was a member of the House of Representatives in 1987. He was elected to the House of Representatives in the 1993 general election representing the Hiroshima 1st district. In November 2000 he signed a petition supporting Koichi Kato's rebellion against Prime Minister Yoshirō Mori. After the rebellion failed he joined the anti-Kato Horiuchi faction. He served as Vice Minister of Education Culture Sports Science and Technology in 2001 under the first Koizumi Cabinet. He became Minister for Foreign Affairs on the 26th of December 2012 following Shinzo Abe's return to power. He held that position until 2017 making him the longest-serving foreign minister in postwar history. He surpassed the tenure of Abe's father Shintaro Abe during this period.
Japan experienced its highest wage growth in thirty years during Kishida's tenure. This reversal came from record wage increases achieved through annual wage negotiations. The government set a minimum wage target of ¥1,500 by the mid-2030s though economists questioned if macroeconomic factors would allow it. Kishida announced a plan to double the country's children-related budget by June 2023. He established the Children and Families Agency on the 1st of April 2023 within the Cabinet Office. On the 1st of June the Japanese government set aside ¥3.5 trillion annually for child care. Japan's child poverty rate declined to 11.5 percent by 2022 according to available data. UNICEF ranked Japan eighth among thirty-nine developed countries in tackling child poverty in 2023. Media response remained mixed with some critics calling the policies ineffective for raising birth rates.
Kishida instructed his cabinet to increase Japan's military spending to reach NATO targets of two percent of GDP. Defense budgets rose from 5.4 trillion yen in 2022 to 8.9 trillion yen by 2027 representing a sixty-five percent increase. Total defense spending between 2023 and 2027 reached around 43 trillion yen up fifty-six percent from previous years. He signed joint defense pacts with Britain France Canada and Australia during a tour starting January 2023. In July 2024 he announced setting up a U.S.-Japan joint operational command for seamless military operations. The cabinet approved sales of arms overseas and revised equipment transfer rules allowing weapons to be sold to other countries. Kishida urged LDP officials to advance discussions on constitutional reform stating the Self-Defense Forces role was most important for the state. He also strengthened coordination with NATO including joint Europe-Atlantic exercises.
News leaked in December about a slush fund scandal involving several Abe faction ministers and senior party leaders. Yasutoshi Nishimura and Kōichi Hagiuda were among those named in the investigation. Kishida sacked several ministers involved including Nishimura along with Hirokazu Matsuno. It is believed that the Abe faction hid away over five hundred million yen worth of money over five years. His own faction the Kōchikai failed to declare thirty million yen in fundraising from parties over three years. Kishida told the media it resulted from clerical errors though he faced no prosecution. Despite public belief hitting ninety-one percent that the LDP would not change he pledged to dissolve his own faction. The Abe faction followed shortly after but Shikōkai led by Tarō Asō defied the will and did not disband. Kishida lost all three seats up for election in the 2024 Japan by-elections which were previously held by LDP members or affiliated independents.
On the 15th of April 2023 a man threw a cylindrical explosive device at Kishida before a campaign speech in Wakayama. The device exploded after a short delay during which Kishida was evacuated unharmed. Ryuji Kimura a twenty-four-year-old man from Hyogo Prefecture was arrested holding what appeared to be a second object. Kishida immediately left by car after the incident and continued with his stump speech elsewhere in the city. He stated elections are a bedrock of democracy adding that such violence took place was extremely unforgivable. Kimura was indicted on the 7th of September 2023 for attempted murder among other charges. He received a ten-year prison sentence on the 19th of February 2025. Security measures increased significantly during subsequent campaign tours following this attack.
Kishida announced on the 14th of August 2024 that he would no longer seek a second term as president of the Liberal Democratic Party. His cabinet approval rating fell to 21.3 percent in early November 2023 according to Jiji Press surveys. It further dropped to 17.1 percent in December and reached lows around fourteen percent in mid-February polls. A Mainichi Shimbun poll highlighted his approval rating at 14 percent only 0.6 percent better than Tarō Asō before the 2009 landslide victory. In the LDP leadership election Kishida initially endorsed Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi. He then whipped votes for Shigeru Ishiba who defeated Sanae Takaichi to become the next party leader. Kishida retired from the position of prime minister and was succeeded by Shigeru Ishiba after the 2024 Liberal Democratic Party presidential election on the 1st of October 2024.
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Common questions
When was Fumio Kishida born and where did he grow up?
Fumio Kishida was born on the 29th of July 1957 in Shibuya, Tokyo. He grew up hearing stories from atomic bomb survivors while his family returned to Hiroshima every summer.
How long did Fumio Kishida serve as Minister for Foreign Affairs?
Fumio Kishida served as Minister for Foreign Affairs from the 26th of December 2012 until 2017. This tenure made him the longest-serving foreign minister in postwar history surpassing Shintaro Abe.
What economic policies did Fumio Kishida implement regarding child poverty?
Fumio Kishida established the Children and Families Agency on the 1st of April 2023 within the Cabinet Office. The government set aside ¥3.5 trillion annually for child care starting on the 1st of June 2023.
Did Fumio Kishida increase Japan's military spending during his term?
Fumio Kishida instructed his cabinet to increase defense budgets from 5.4 trillion yen in 2022 to 8.9 trillion yen by 2027. Total defense spending between 2023 and 2027 reached around 43 trillion yen up fifty-six percent from previous years.
Who attacked Fumio Kishida and what was the outcome of the trial?
Ryuji Kimura threw a cylindrical explosive device at Fumio Kishida before a campaign speech in Wakayama on the 15th of April 2023. Kimura received a ten-year prison sentence on the 19th of February 2025 after being indicted on attempted murder charges.
When did Fumio Kishida leave office as Prime Minister of Japan?
Fumio Kishida announced he would no longer seek a second term on the 14th of August 2024. He retired from the position of prime minister and was succeeded by Shigeru Ishiba after the 2024 Liberal Democratic Party presidential election on the 1st of October 2024.