Japan has suffered from a leadership deficit since the charismatic Koizumi Junichiro stepped down in 2006.
With the recent launch of the Noda Yoshihiko cabinet, Japan has had six prime ministers in the past five years. The revolving-door of political leadership matters because it handicaps Japan's ability to handle challenges, both domestic and global. Nowhere are these challenges more apparent than in the security field.
Because no prime minister can micro-manage Japan's security policies, it is necessary to appoint the best and brightest as defense minister.