Yoshimasa Hayashi

is a Japanese politician who has been the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications since 2025. He was the Chief Cabinet Secretary from 2023 until 2025. He was the Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2021 to 2024. He is a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. He is also in the House of Representatives for the Yamaguchi 3rd district since 2021.

In August 2024, Hayashi announced his candidacy for the Liberal Democratic leadership election to replace Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. He lost the election to former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba on 27 September 2024.

In September 2025, Hayashi announced his second candidacy for President of the Liberal Democratic Party in the Liberal Democratic leadership election to replace Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. He was eliminated in the first round on 4 October. After Sanae Takaichi was confirmed as prime minister, she named Hayashi as the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications in her cabinet.

References

Category:1961 births
Category:Living people
Category:Politicians from Yamaguchi Prefecture
Category:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan) politicians
Category:Foreign ministers of Japan
Category:Defense ministers of Japan
Category:Chief Cabinet Secretaries of Japan
Category:Education ministers of Japan
Category:Culture ministers of Japan
Category:Sports ministers of Japan
Category:Science ministers of Japan
Category:Ministers of agriculture, forestry and fisheries of Japan
Category:Internal Affairs and Communications ministers of Japan