Japan gets first woman defence minister

Japan has its first ever female defence chief after controversy forced out the previous minister. Yuriko Koike, a former national security adviser, has been officially sworn in. Described in the media as a hawk on security matters, she presented a popular television programme before going into politics.

Koike is replacing Fumio Kyuma who was forced to resign after controversial remarks he made in the media. He suggested that the 1945 US atomic bombings of two Japanese cities were inevitable. The comments were condemned by groups representing victims of the bombings.

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