**Shigeru Ishiba Takes Charge Amid LDP Division and Imminent General Election**

Shigeru Ishiba has taken office as Japan's new prime minister, immediately tasked with the formidable challenge of unifying a fractured Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) before the upcoming October 27 general election. Ishiba's prompt unveiling of his Cabinet came on the same day as his election by the parliament, following earlier announcements of senior party appointments. His selection strategy notably favored figures untainted by the recent political funds scandal that severely impacted public trust in the LDP.

"The first order of business to regain the people's trust is to initiate political reforms. Transparency in how political money is collected and spent is essential," Ishiba emphasized during a news conference on Tuesday evening. He also highlighted the dire security environment surrounding Japan, marking it the most severe since World War II, and pledged to bolster defense capabilities while strengthening diplomatic ties, particularly the Japan-U.S. alliance.

Economically, Ishiba aims to continue the growth strategies of former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, with ambitious goals such as raising the minimum wage to ¥1,500 per hour and implementing swift economic measures to tackle inflation. In his Cabinet, Ishiba included individuals connected to his predecessors Yoshihide Suga and Fumio Kishida, as well as key picks like Takeshi Iwaya for the Foreign Ministry and Yoshimasa Hayashi as Chief Cabinet Secretary.

Notable appointments also include Katsunobu Kato, an opponent in the recent LDP leadership race, as finance chief, and Gen Nakatani returning as defense minister. Among the 19 ministers in Ishiba's Cabinet are two women: Toshiko Abe as education minister and Junko Mihara in charge of children's policies. However, Ishiba consciously avoided members from a faction formerly led by the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the focal point of the scandal.

Ishiba has taken decisive action by removing former Prime Minister Taro Aso from the party vice president role, appointing rival Yoshihide Suga instead, sparking further tension within party ranks. Though Ishiba extended offers to leadership rivals Sanae Takaichi and Takayuki Kobayashi, both rejected the positions, underscoring the party's internal rift. Takaichi, a staunch ally of Abe, and Kobayashi, supported by younger lawmakers, represent significant opposition factions within the LDP.

Facing a divided party, Ishiba announced a snap election scheduled for October 27, ahead of what was previously speculated. This decision deviated from his August 24 campaign promise to hold budget committee sessions before dissolving the Lower House, likely influenced by the urging of Hiroshi Moriyama, the newly appointed LDP secretary-general. This move has revealed Ishiba’s precarious stance within a deeply divided party, as his newly formed administration, with 13 first-time ministers, appears vulnerable to opposition scrutiny. By eschewing prolonged budget deliberations, Ishiba aims to avoid early missteps and solidify his leadership in the critical lead-up to the election.