Former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, who joined Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori's Cabinet in the December reshuffle, is showing great zeal and is even outshining Mori, according to political pundits.
"Right up to the last moment, I didn't think Mr. Hashimoto would be chosen as the director general of the Okinawa Development Agency," said Okinawa Gov. Keiichi Inamine at a luncheon in the prefectural capital of Naha on Dec. 25. "I was really surprised and we all welcomed the appointment."
Hashimoto, state minister in charge of administrative reforms and Okinawa issues, was visiting the prefecture for the first time since he assumed the post.