Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s pick for his new foreign minister, Taro Kono, is known for his close ties with Washington and his reputation as a political maverick who does not shy away from speaking his mind, even on politically sensitive issues. Kono, 54…
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s pick for his new foreign minister, Taro Kono, is known for his close ties with Washington and his reputation as a political maverick who does not shy away from speaking his mind, even on politically sensitive issues.
Kono, 54, is the son of former chief cabinet secretary Yohei Kono, who wrote a landmark 1993 apology to „comfort women“ who were forced to work in Japanese wartime military brothels.
A fluent English speaker educated at Georgetown University in Washington, Kono will replace Fumio Kishida, who has rarely differed in public with Abe since taking office in December 2012, after a cabinet reshuffle on Thursday.
“ (His) extremely strong and deep connections in the U. S. range from personal relationship with senators and congressmen and State Department officials all the way to A-team venture capitalists and entrepreneurs, “ said Jesper Koll, head of equity fund WisdomTree Japan.
„In the current state of confusion and flip-flop in Washington, Kono’s deep and broad network of personal connection will be a huge asset, “ he said in an email.
