Photo/Illutration Prime Minister Fumio Kishida returns to his office accompanied by his executive secretary and son, Shotaro, left. (Koichi Ueda)

Despite criticism from all sides, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida appears to have taken the next step in grooming his heir apparent in politics.

The prime minister on Oct. 4 appointed eldest son Shotaro Kishida, 31, as executive secretary in charge of political affairs.

Opposition parties have accused the father of nepotism. And lawmakers in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party have questioned the timing of the appointment.

LDP insiders said the prime minister should not have given the opposition any ammunition when his Cabinet’s support ratings are declining.

Kishida was asked about his son’s new post during the Upper House plenary session on Oct. 7.

He explained that his son was the right person for the job because he can make expedient and detailed reports related to crisis management as well as transmit messages on social media.

Associates of the prime minister describe Shotaro as “humble” and an “upstanding young man.”

Others said it was only appropriate for Shotaro to take care of personal matters for the prime minister.

According to government officials, Shotaro entered trading company Mitsui & Co. in 2014 after graduating from the Law Faculty of Keio University.

He left Mitsui in 2020 and became a government-paid secretary at his father’s lawmaker office.

Shotaro is expected to eventually take over the Hiroshima No. 1 Lower House district that his father now represents.

Kishida had indicated that he would appoint his son as executive secretary after serving as prime minister for a year.

“The prime minister likely has a strong desire to have him succeed him as a lawmaker,” a high-ranking official in the prime minister’s office said. “He will learn a great deal more here while observing what is going on in comparison to working at the lawmaker office.”

According to sources, Shotaro has been told by his father from a young age that he would have to work twice as hard because 50 percent of anything he did would be considered a result of being the son of an influential politician.

Shotaro has told those close to him that he would accept whatever criticism arose over the latest appointment.

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