Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is expected to conduct her first Cabinet reshuffle next month, and among the most compelling decisions she will have to make concerns the future of Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi.

The son of uber popular former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has enjoyed a relatively successful outing as the country’s defense minister, maintaining public visibility, avoiding gaffes, and representing Japan in security engagements across the globe. However, with Takaichi seeking to shake up the Cabinet amid growing frustrations within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, there is no guarantee that Koizumi will remain as defense minister. Right now, there is no definitive answer as to whether he will stay in the position, move into another position, or leave the Cabinet entirely.

Koizumi’s status as an LDP top contender is secure. He became defense minister after finishing a close second in the LDP leadership race. In that election, he received enough votes to make it to the runoffs against Takaichi, and the overall outcome indicated that he would be in the hunt for the top job again in the future.