Fumio Kishida

Fumio Kishida, a Japanese politician, was born in Shibuya, Tokyo, to a political family. His father and grandfather were former politicians, and his family had ties to Hiroshima.

In 1988, Fumio Kishida married Yuko Kishida in an arranged marriage. They have three sons.

Fumio Kishida was elected to the House of Representatives in the 1993 general election, representing the Hiroshima 1st district.

Following the LDP's victory in the 2012 general election, Fumio Kishida was appointed as the foreign minister in the Cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzō Abe. He became the longest-serving foreign minister in postwar history, surpassing Abe's father Shintaro Abe.

Fumio Kishida played a role in arranging U.S. President Barack Obama's historic visit to Hiroshima in May 2016.

In 2017, Fumio Kishida left the Cabinet to take over the chairmanship of the LDP Policy Research Council, aiming to improve his chances to succeed Abe.

Fumio Kishida considered running in the 2018 LDP presidential election but was persuaded by Abe not to run, with a suggestion that Abe would later support Kishida as his successor.

Fumio Kishida ran in the 2020 LDP presidential election but lost out to Yoshihide Suga, who became prime minister.

Fumio Kishida was confirmed as Prime Minister by the National Diet on 4 October 2021, after winning the LDP leadership election.

On the same day as the First Kishida Cabinet took office, Kishida announced he would call a general election for 31 October 2021.

In a parliamentary session on February 20, 2022, Fumio Kishida emphasized that the benefits of economic growth should be accessible to all stakeholders, stressing the importance of inclusive capitalism.

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Kishida, along with other G7 leaders, imposed harsh economic sanctions on Russia, in contrast to the symbolic sanctions imposed in 2014. The move aimed to show solidarity and support for Ukraine amidst the crisis.

Kishida established the Children and Families Agency within the Cabinet Office to address various issues related to child welfare, such as nursery access, child allowances, child poverty, child abuse, suicide prevention, cyberbullying, and support for children with disabilities.

Prime Minister Kishida met with President Joe Biden of the United States, reaffirming the unchanged Japan-United States alliance.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called for Kishida to commit 'seppuku' after warnings against Russia's use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine. The call highlighted the heightened tensions and rhetoric surrounding the conflict.

On the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Kishida led the G7 in a virtual meeting where new coordinated economic actions were announced to support Ukraine, showcasing international solidarity and response to the ongoing crisis.

During the Diet's budget committee on February 28, 2023, Fumio Kishida defended his position against same-sex marriage, stating that he did not consider it unjust discrimination by the state and reiterating that he did not find the ban unconstitutional.

Kishida's government ended the request for citizens to wear face masks in public, which was initially initiated to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.

Kishida visited Ukraine, met with President Zelenskyy, and also visited Bucha, expressing outrage over the civilian massacre perpetrated by Russia. The visit demonstrated Japan's support for Ukraine and condemnation of the atrocities committed during the invasion.

A man threw a cylindrical explosive at Kishida shortly before he was due to make a campaign speech in Wakayama on 15 April 2023. The device exploded after a short delay during which Kishida was evacuated from the scene unharmed. The perpetrator, Ryuji Kimura, was arrested at the scene and indicted for attempted murder.

Kishida's Health Minister announced that the government would downgrade the classification of COVID-19 to be on par with 'seasonal flu' by 8 May 2023.

Prime Minister Kishida and other G7 leaders paid respects at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, and issued a joint statement on Ukraine, expressing support for Ukraine and the rule of law.

Kishida announced a plan to double the country's children-related budget by June 2023, aiming to tackle issues related to child welfare.

In an effort to dispel fears of radioactive contamination, Prime Minister Kishida and three cabinet ministers publicly ate fish sashimi from Fukushima, reassuring the public that it was safe and delicious.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) commended Japan's support for Indonesia's G20 Presidency and other concrete projects, reflecting the strong bilateral relations and cooperation between Japan and Indonesia.