Toshimitsu Motegi

Toshimitsu Motegi
茂木 敏充
Motegi in 2014
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Assumed office
21 October 2025
Prime MinisterSanae Takaichi
Preceded byTakeshi Iwaya
In office
11 September 2019 – 4 November 2021
Prime MinisterShinzo Abe
Yoshihide Suga
Fumio Kishida
Preceded byTarō Kōno
Succeeded byYoshimasa Hayashi
Secretary-General of the Liberal Democratic Party
In office
4 November 2021 – 30 September 2024
PresidentFumio Kishida
Vice PresidentTarō Asō
Preceded byAkira Amari
Succeeded byHiroshi Moriyama
Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy
In office
3 August 2017 – 11 September 2019
Prime MinisterShinzo Abe
Preceded byNobuteru Ishihara
Succeeded byYasutoshi Nishimura
Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry
In office
26 December 2012 – 3 September 2014
Prime MinisterShinzo Abe
Preceded byYukio Edano
Succeeded byYūko Obuchi
Member of the House of Representatives
Assumed office
19 July 1993
Preceded byMulti-member district
ConstituencyTochigi 2nd (1993–1996)
Tochigi 5th (1996–present)
Personal details
Born (1955-10-07) 7 October 1955
Ashikaga, Tochigi, Japan
Political partyLDP (since 1994)
Other political
affiliations
JNP (1993–1994)
Alma materUniversity of Tokyo
Harvard University
Signature
WebsiteOfficial website

Toshimitsu Motegi (茂木 敏充, Motegi Toshimitsu; born 7 October 1955) is a Japanese politician who has been the Minister for Foreign Affairs since 21 October 2025. He was foreign minister before from 11 September 2019 until 4 November 2021.[1] He was Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry from 2012 to 2014. He is also a member of the House of Representatives since 1993. From 2021 to 2024, Motegi was the Secretary-General of the Liberal Democratic Party.

Political career

In September 2024, Motegi announced his candidacy for the Liberal Democratic leadership election to replace Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.[2] He lost the election to former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba on 27 September 2024.[3]

In September 2025, after Prime Minister Ishiba's resignation, Motegi became the first person to announce their campaign for the 2025 LDP presidential election.[4] He was eliminated in the first round on 4 October.[5]

After Sanae Takaichi became prime minister, she picked Motegi to be the Minister for Foreign Affairs in her cabinet.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Bosack, Michael MacArthur (2020-09-16). "Breaking down Suga's picks for his first Cabinet". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on 2020-09-18. Retrieved 2020-09-16.
  2. ↑ "Motegi follows his open ambition to seek top LDP post". Asahi Shimbun. 2024-09-04. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
  3. ↑ "【速報中】自民党新総裁に石破氏 決選投票で高市氏破る". 日本経済新聞 (in Japanese). 2024-09-27. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
  4. ↑ Takahara, Kanako (2025-09-08). "Race to replace Ishiba kicks off as LDP heavyweight Motegi throws hat into ring". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2025-09-08.
  5. ↑ "Takaichi wins LDP leadership vote; likely to become Japan's first female PM". The Japan Times. 4 October 2025. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  6. ↑ "Takaichi's Cabinet Names Rival Koizumi as Defense Minister". MSN. 21 October 2025. Retrieved 21 October 2025.