Japan's new defence minister sustains far-right's sway

Subject

Profile of Minister of Defence Tomomi Inada.

Significance

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's appointment this month of Tomomi Inada as defence minister was depicted as provocative by spokespeople in Seoul and Beijing. South Korea's SBS television called her "a right-winger who rejects the comfort women issue and the rulings of the Tokyo [war crimes] tribunal", while Chinese state-run television reported that Inada "has visited Yasukuni Shrine many times" and "denies Japan's history of aggression". Inada has occupied a high-profile role since her election to the lower house in 2005, and even before that championed revisionist causes.

Impacts

• As a new face in a key cabinet position Inada will refresh the LDP's image.
• In interviews since her appointment Inada has shown restraint, suggesting that policy will not shift markedly to the right.
• Abe's government has always had close links with the far right; Inada's appointment is not a new direction.