Is Shinjiro Koizumi being fast-tracked as Japan’s next leader, following in his father’s footsteps?

The popular 38-year-old politician is the son of former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi and is widely touted as a future leader himself

Other notable appointments in Japan’s new cabinet include new foreign and defence ministers

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Newly appointed Japanese environment minister Shinjiro Koizumi. Photo: Reuters

Published: 4:52pm, 11 Sep 2019Updated: 4:52pm, 11 Sep 2019

One of the most talked about appointments in Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s reshuffled cabinet is that of rising political star Shinjiro Koizumi, who was named environment minister on Wednesday.

The 38-year-old son of popular former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi has been touted as a future leader himself, and his appointment was seen as a bid by Abe to boost public support for his government and give his cabinet a fresh image.

Shinjiro, as he is known to distinguish himself from his father, is a darling of the Japanese media, and received widespread coverage in August when he announced that he would marry television personality Christel Takigawa, who became known as the face of Tokyo’s successful bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Shinjiro Koizumi and Christel Takigawa announce their marriage plans on August 7. Photo: Reuters

They are expecting a baby early next year and Shinjiro said he plans to take paternity leave, a rare move in a country where only about six per cent of fathers take such leave. He has also spoken in favour of letting married couples use separate surnames in official documents, which is banned under current law.

The marriage announcement was made at the prime minister’s office, cementing Shinjiro’s position in the Japanese political elite. He is regularly rated by voters as the politician they would most like to see as their next leader. In a May survey by the Asahi newspaper, he led a field of six potential candidates with an overall 29 per cent approval rating, rising to 32 per cent among women.