Shigeru Ishiba facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shigeru Ishiba
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石破 茂
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Official portrait, 2024
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| Prime Minister of Japan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office 1 October 2024 |
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| Monarch | Naruhito | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Fumio Kishida | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| President of the Liberal Democratic Party | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office 27 September 2024 |
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| Vice President | Yoshihide Suga | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Secretary-General | Hiroshi Moriyama | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Fumio Kishida | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Member of the House of Representatives | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office 8 July 1986 |
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| Preceded by | Multi-member district | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Constituency |
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| Majority | 85,456 (68.2%) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 4 February 1957 Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan |
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| Political party | Liberal Democratic (1986–1993; 1997–present) |
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| Other political affiliations |
Japan Renewal Party (1993–1994) New Frontier Party (1994–1996) Independent (1996–1997) |
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| Spouse |
Yoshiko Nakamura
(m. 1983) |
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| Children | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parent | Jirō Ishiba (father) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Education | Keio Senior High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | Keio University (LLB) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Signature |  |
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| YouTube information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years active | 2010–present | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Genre | Politics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Subscribers | 25,600 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total views | 2,087,899 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Subscriber and view counts updated as of November 1, 2024. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Japanese name | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kanji | 石破 茂 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Revised Hepburn | Ishiba Shigeru | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shigeru Ishiba (Japanese: 石破 茂; born on February 4, 1957) is a Japanese politician. He is currently the Prime Minister of Japan and the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) since 2024. He has been a member of Japan's House of Representatives since 1986. Before becoming Prime Minister, he served as Minister of Defense (2007–2008) and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (2008–2009). He was also the Secretary-General of the LDP from 2012 to 2014.
Ishiba grew up in a political family. His father, Jirō Ishiba, was the governor of Tottori Prefecture and later a government minister. After college, Ishiba worked at a bank. He then entered politics after his father passed away. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1986 when he was 29 years old. As a member of the Diet, he focused on farming and defense policies. He left the LDP for a few years but rejoined in 1997. He then held many important roles in the government.
Ishiba became a well-known figure in the LDP. He tried to become the party leader several times, including against Shinzo Abe in 2012 and 2018. Even though he often criticized his own party, he formed his own group, Suigetsukai, in 2015. He ran for leadership again in 2020 but came in third. In 2024, after Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced he would step down, Ishiba ran for the LDP leadership for the fifth time. He won, becoming the new party leader and was officially elected Prime Minister on October 1, 2024. Soon after, Ishiba called for a quick general election. In this election, the LDP lost its majority in the Diet for the first time since 2009.
Ishiba is known as a "political maverick." This means he often speaks his mind and criticizes his own party. He also has more open-minded views on social issues.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Shigeru Ishiba was born in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, on February 4, 1957. His family's official home was in Yazu District in Tottori Prefecture, where his father was from. His father, Jirō Ishiba, was a government official. His mother was a teacher.
In 1958, Ishiba's father became the Governor of Tottori Prefecture. So, his family moved there. Ishiba grew up and went to school in Tottori. After junior high, he moved to Tokyo to attend Keio Senior High School. He then studied law at Keio University.
After graduating in 1979, Ishiba started working at Mitsui Bank. His father passed away in 1981. Former Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka, a friend of his father, encouraged Ishiba to become a politician to continue his father's work.
Early Political Career (1986–2024)
Ishiba left the bank in 1983. He then worked for a political group linked to Kakuei Tanaka's faction within the Liberal Democratic Party. In July 1986, Ishiba ran in the general election as an LDP candidate. He was elected to the House of Representatives at 29, making him the youngest member at that time.
As a new Diet member, Ishiba focused on farming policies. However, the Gulf War in 1990 and a visit to North Korea in 1992 sparked his interest in defense. He served as a vice minister for agriculture. In 1993, he left the LDP to join the Japan Renewal Party. He later joined the New Frontier Party. But he was unhappy with the party's internal struggles and left in 1996. He rejoined the LDP in 1997.
Ishiba became a vice minister for agriculture again in July 2000. Later that year, he became the deputy head of the Defense Agency. In September 2002, he became the Director-General of the Defense Agency, joining the cabinet for the first time. He held this role during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He supported sending Japanese troops to Iraq in 2004 to help with rebuilding. He left this position in September 2004.
On September 26, 2007, Ishiba was appointed Minister of Defense under Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda. He served until August 1, 2008. Ishiba once joked that he would use the Japan Self-Defense Forces if Godzilla appeared.
After Fukuda resigned, Ishiba ran for LDP president in September 2008 but lost. In the cabinet formed by Tarō Asō on September 24, 2008, Ishiba became Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. He kept his seat in the 2009 general election, even though the LDP lost badly. When Sadakazu Tanigaki became the new party president, Ishiba was made chairman of the Policy Research Council, a top party role.
In September 2012, Ishiba ran for LDP president again. He was narrowly defeated by former prime minister Shinzo Abe. He then accepted the role of secretary-general on September 27, 2012. He continued in this role after Abe became Prime Minister again in December 2012.
In September 2014, Prime Minister Abe appointed Ishiba to a new role: Minister for Overcoming Population Decline and Vitalizing Local Economy. Even though he had criticized political groups within the LDP, Ishiba started his own group, Suigetsukai, on September 28, 2015. His goal was to become the next prime minister.
Ishiba left the cabinet in April 2016. He challenged Abe again in the 2018 LDP presidential election but lost. In 2020, after Shinzo Abe resigned, Ishiba ran for LDP leadership again. He lost to Yoshihide Suga, coming in third. Ishiba chose not to run in the 2021 LDP leadership election. Instead, he supported Taro Kono.
Becoming Prime Minister (2024–present)
On August 14, 2024, the then-LDP leader and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced he would not seek re-election. This meant he would resign as prime minister. This decision came after low approval ratings due to funding issues. Ishiba became a leading candidate to replace him. In the leadership election on September 27, 2024, Ishiba won against Sanae Takaichi in a second round. He became the new LDP leader and was set to become prime minister. His victory was seen as a surprise because he had lost leadership bids many times before. After his win, the Japanese stock market dropped, which was called "Ishiba Shock."
Three days after the election, Ishiba announced his new party officials. He appointed former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga as vice president of the party. Hiroshi Moriyama became the secretary-general. These appointments aimed to bring stability to the party.
On September 30, Ishiba announced he would dissolve the House of Representatives on October 9. He called for a quick general election on October 27, 2024. This decision was made even before he was officially elected Prime Minister by the Diet. Opposition parties criticized this, saying it didn't allow enough time for debate. Despite this, the Lower House voted to close the Diet session on October 9.
Ishiba was elected by the National Diet and officially appointed as Prime Minister by Emperor Naruhito on October 1, 2024. He became the twenty-fifth Liberal Democratic Prime Minister. Ishiba announced his cabinet members before the general election. He included some of his rivals from the leadership race to unite the party.
In his first major speech on October 4, Ishiba talked about Japan's low birth rate and the security situation in the region. He called the low birth rate a "quiet emergency." He also promised to help the Japanese economy grow and ensure the Imperial House of Japan remains stable. He also expressed regret for the recent funding issues.
2024 General Election and Second Cabinet
On October 9, Ishiba dissolved the House of Representatives for the general election on October 27. The LDP decided not to support 12 politicians involved in the funding issues. Despite these actions, the LDP faced a major defeat, losing 67 seats and its majority in the Diet. The next day, Ishiba said he intended to remain Prime Minister despite the election results. Some thought his decision to call a quick election might put his leadership at risk.
On November 11, Ishiba was re-elected as prime minister of a minority government. He won 221 votes from the Diet, defeating Yoshihiko Noda. Hours before, Ishiba's first cabinet resigned, and he formed a second cabinet that was mostly the same. This was the first time in 30 years that a Japanese prime minister needed a second vote to be re-elected.
Domestic Policy
In January 2025, Ishiba's government proposed a record-high budget for the new fiscal year. This large budget is mainly due to costs for the aging population and stronger defense, which started under the previous government. On January 24, he gave a speech about his vision for a "fun Japan." He said he wants everyone to feel safe and respected. He also plans to focus on improving local areas, closing the gender pay gap, and making Japan more digital.
Social Issues
In January 2025, Ishiba's government announced that same-sex partners will have similar rights to common-law marriages under 24 laws. This includes laws about benefits for families of crime victims.
Foreign Policy
In November 2024, Ishiba asked US President Joe Biden to approve a deal for a Japanese company to buy a US steel company. However, the deal was blocked. After this, Japan's Foreign Minister visited China in December, which was seen as a sign of improving relations. In January 2025, Ishiba's government announced it would make it easier for Chinese tourists to get visas. This plan received some criticism within his own party.
Public Mistakes
Ishiba has been criticized for some public mistakes since becoming prime minister. In October 2024, it was reported that government officials edited an official photo of his cabinet to hide signs that Ishiba looked messy. In November 2024, he seemed to fall asleep during a Diet session. At a summit in Peru, he was criticized for greeting world leaders while sitting down. He was also seen eating onigiri (rice balls) in a way that some found impolite.
Political Views
Ishiba is often described as a centrist and moderate conservative. While he was once linked to a far-right group, he has been criticized by some nationalists. He has said that Japan's failure to fully address its past war actions is a cause of many problems.
Social Views
Ishiba supports a system that would allow married couples to keep their original last names. He believes this change needs more discussion within his party. Ishiba also supports same-sex marriage in Japan. In his 2024 book, he argued that laws should be passed to protect LGBT rights.
Foreign Policy
During a crisis with North Korea in 2013, Ishiba said Japan had the right to strike first if needed.
Ishiba supports Taiwanese democracy. However, he also calls for stronger talks and cooperation with China, rather than conflict.
In his book written during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ishiba said that comparing the Russian invasion to a possible Chinese attack on Taiwan is more about emotions than facts. He has criticized the idea that "Ukraine today may be East Asia tomorrow." He believes that without a group defense system like NATO in Asia, wars are more likely. He thinks an Asian group security alliance is needed to stop China.
"Asian NATO" and US-Japan Alliance
In September 2024, Ishiba suggested that an Asian version of NATO might be needed to counter threats from China, Russia, and North Korea. He proposed strengthening alliances with countries like Australia, Canada, the Philippines, India, France, Germany, the UK, and South Korea. This idea was quickly dismissed by the US.
Ishiba has also said that Japan's alliance with the US should be more balanced. He wants Japan to have more control over American military bases in Japan. He believes Japan should have its own military strategy to protect itself. He also suggested that Japanese troops could be placed in Guam to strengthen the alliance.
Historical Awareness and Yasukuni Shrine
After his win in the 2024 LDP presidential election, some South Korean media called Ishiba a "dove" regarding Japan's role in World War II. For example, in 2019, he said that many problems between Japan and South Korea come from Japan not facing up to its wartime responsibilities.
Ishiba has criticized Japan's government during World War II. He said they should be held responsible for entering a war they were sure to lose. He also questioned why their actions leading to defeat are not questioned. He believes that while there were issues with the Tokyo Trials, Japan is what it is today because it accepted them.
Regarding visits to Yasukuni Shrine by politicians, Ishiba has questioned if this helps Japan's national interest. He noted that such visits upset countries like South Korea. He believes active politicians do not need to visit the shrine. He said it is especially not appropriate for a prime minister to visit due to concerns from China and South Korea. Ishiba has not visited the shrine since he first joined the cabinet in 2002. Instead, he visits his local Gokoku Shrine every August 15th.
He has defended the Murayama Statement, which expressed Japan's apologies for its wartime actions.
Military Affairs
Ishiba is known as a gunji otaku (military geek). He is very interested in military matters. He knows a lot about weapons systems and defense laws. He also enjoys building and painting models of aircraft and ships.
Ishiba has often said that Japan needs its own version of the United States Marine Corps. This would help Japan defend its many small islands. He first suggested this in 2010 and again in 2013.
Nuclear Weapons
In 2017, Ishiba stated that Japan should have the technology to build nuclear weapons if it chooses to. In 2024, he said the region should consider having nuclear weapons if it wants an Asian version of NATO.
Personal Life
Ishiba met his wife, Yoshiko Nakamura, at Keio University. They married in 1983 and have two daughters. Ishiba is a Christian, specifically a Protestant. He was baptized at 18. He also visits the Buddhist graves of his ancestors and worships at a Shinto shrine.
Ishiba is known as an "otaku" with a strong interest in the military, vehicles, and trains. He has a large collection of military plastic models, some of which are in his office. The Guardian newspaper described him as a "bookish idealist" in 2024. He is also a fan of the 1970s idol group Candies. He enjoys riding sleeper trains to Tottori Prefecture. His favorite authors are Soseki Natsume and Ogai Mori. Ishiba is also known to read three books daily. He leads a group within his party that promotes ramen.
Ishiba made news when he allowed a Japan Self-Defense Forces vehicle to be shown at a hobby fair. When former US Ambassador to Japan Howard Baker visited in 2002, Ishiba gave him a plastic model of a Lockheed P-3 Orion plane. It is said that when the Russian Defense Minister visited Japan, Ishiba stayed up all night building a model of the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov.
Ishiba is also known to be a heavy smoker.
Affiliated Organizations and Parliamentary Associations
- Nippon Kaigi Parliamentary League (a conservative group)
- Shinseiren Diet Members' Conference
- Cross-Party Parliamentary League for Considering Human Rights Diplomacy
See also
In Spanish: Shigeru Ishiba para niños
