Former farm deputy says Prime Minister Takaichi offered him the agriculture ministry

Former senior vice farm minister Arata Takebe told reporters at the prime minister's office that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has offered him the farm minister portfolio. Takebe, a six-term member of the House of Representatives from Hokkaido and deputy chair of the Liberal Democratic Party's Policy Research Council, said he intends to apply his accumulated knowledge to the job. The appointment comes after Kazuo Yana was effectively dismissed following investigations into his constituency activities and a looming Senate censure motion.

Takaichi seeks to minimise disruption to her government's agenda, particularly the passage of a temporary consumption-tax cut bill in one outlet Diet session. Yana had been criticized for alleged illegal election conduct, including providing free shuttle buses to supporters, and submitted his resignation during a meeting with Takaichi, which the prime minister accepted.