Politics · Japan · 3 hrs ago
Takaichi calls Japan’s defence minister ‘Prime Minister’ by mistake
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi mistakenly called Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi “Prime Minister” during a parliamentary committee meeting in Japan on October 19.
She immediately corrected herself, saying that it was too soon for Koizumi to be prime minister.
The exchange drew laughter from lawmakers in the committee room.
The discussion concerned Self-Defense Forces disaster assistance in Kumamoto, following an earthquake in July.
Koizumi had said that the forces’ withdrawal from disaster work is based on a request from local authorities.
Takaichi said Kumamoto Prefecture had requested the withdrawal, and that she intended to repeat the defence minister’s answer.
The committee was considering calls to expand water-supply support for affected communities.
The sources give no further developments on the aid or the committee’s next steps.
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi mistakenly called Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi “Prime Minister” during a parliamentary committee session on October 19.
She immediately corrected herself, saying that it was too early to call him prime minister.
The mistake drew laughter from members of the committee.
Takaichi said she had meant to refer to what the defence minister had just said about the withdrawal of Self-Defense Forces disaster-response support in Kumamoto.
The exchange took place during a discussion of support for areas affected by an earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture.
- Who
- Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi mistakenly called Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi “Prime Minister.
- What
- She corrected the mistake immediately, saying it was too early to call him prime minister.
- When
- October 19, 2026.
- Where
- At Japan’s House of Councillors Budget Committee.
- Why
- Takaichi said she meant to refer to what Koizumi had just said.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
A lawmaker asked Takaichi to respond about Self-Defense Forces support in areas affected by the Kumamoto earthquake.
Koizumi said the withdrawal of the Self-Defense Forces’ disaster-response activities was based on a request from the local government.
Takaichi began to say “Koizumi Prime Minister,” corrected herself and explained that she meant to refer to the defence minister’s answer.
- Speaker
- Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s prime minister
- Mistaken title
- Koizumi Prime Minister
- Minister named
- Shinjiro Koizumi, defence minister
- Date
- October 19, 2026
- Committee
- House of Councillors Budget Committee
- Topic
- Self-Defense Forces disaster support in Kumamoto Prefecture
3 sources
What people are saying
Koizumi Prime Minister” is still too early.
I meant to say what the defence minister answered.