Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda reshuffled his Cabinet Monday — the second in nine months. His aim is clear: removing obstacles — Defense Minister Naoki Tanaka and infrastructure and transport minister Takeshi Maeda — to facilitate negotiations with the opposition Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito on bills to eventually double the consumption tax rate from the current 5 percent to 10 percent.
But Mr. Noda must consider whether it is wise to push a consumption tax hike when the economy is suffering from longtime deflation. Pushing the tax hike without first carrying out necessary reform such as making the social security system sustainable and eliminating wasteful use of public money is like putting the cart before the horse. The opposition parties called for removing Mr. Tanaka and Mr. Maeda, both censured in April in the Upper House, if the Democratic Party of Japan wanted to enter into negotiations with them over the tax raise bills.
Mr. Tanaka was censured for his lack of knowledge of defense-related matters and Mr. Maeda for his questionable behavior before a mayoral election in Gero, Gifu Prefecture. Mr. Noda picked Mr. Satoshi Morimoto, a professor at Takushoku University, to succeed Mr. Tanaka, and Mr. Yuichiro Hata, head of the DPJ's Diet affairs committee in the Upper House, to succeed Mr. Maeda. Mr. Morimoto, a graduate of the National Defense Academy, first joined the Air Self-Defense Force and later joined the Foreign Ministry. He served as an aide on defense matters in Prime Minister Taro Aso's administration. He is not an elected legislator. Even within the LPD there is a view that his appointment runs counter to the principle of civilian control of the Self-Defense Forces.