The family resemblance is unmistakable between former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Nobuo Kishi, his younger brother and the country's new defense minister.
But it’s not just Kishi’s facial features and slicked-back hair that evoke images of the nation's longest-serving prime minister. Past statements suggest the 61-year-old is also aligned with his brother ideologically, having spent his career championing hawkish attitudes in defense and diplomacy, nationalist views on history and the strengthening of ties with Taiwan.
Kishi is one of the few new faces in the fledgling Cabinet of Yoshihide Suga, who officially became the nation’s 99th prime minister Wednesday.