Yoshihide Suga Becomes Japan’s Prime Minister

Yoshihide Suga has become Japan’s first new prime minister in almost eight years, replacing the country’s longest-serving premier, Shinzo Abe, who stepped down citing health concerns. Suga, 71, was sworn in by Emperor Naruhito at the Imperial Palace after parliament elected him as prime minister. He pledges to forge ahead with his predecessor’s key policies, including his efforts to jump-start the economy and to revise Japan’s postwar constitution, which restricts the use of its military. Mr. Suga has said kickstarting the economy will be a top priority, along with containing the virus- essential if the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics are to open as planned in July 2021.