Minoru Kihara

Minoru Kihara
木原 稔
Official portrait, 2023
Chief Cabinet Secretary
Assumed office
21 October 2025
Prime MinisterSanae Takaichi
Preceded byYoshimasa Hayashi
Minister of Defense
In office
13 September 2023 – 1 October 2024
Prime MinisterFumio Kishida
Preceded byYasukazu Hamada
Succeeded byGen Nakatani
Member of the House of Representatives
Assumed office
18 December 2012
Preceded byYorihisa Matsuno
ConstituencyKumamoto 1st
In office
11 September 2005 – 21 July 2009
ConstituencyKyushu PR
Personal details
Born (1969-08-12) 12 August 1969
Kumamoto, Japan
PartyLiberal Democratic
Alma materWaseda University
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Minoru Kihara (木原 稔, Kihara Minoru; born 12 August 1969) is a Japanese politician who has been the Chief Cabinet Secretary since 2025. He previously served as Minister of Defense from 2023 to 2024. A member of the Liberal Democratic Party, he also serves in the House of Representatives, and was previously Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Defense.