Arfiya Eri, a Uyghur woman who has been elected to Japan’s parliament for two consecutive terms, has been reappointed as Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs.
At the cabinet meeting held on October 22, 2025, Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced the new vice ministerial appointments under her administration. Eri, who had also served as Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Ishiba Cabinet in 2024, was once again appointed to the same post. After presenting appointment letters to the new vice ministers, Prime Minister Takaichi joined them for a commemorative photo session, followed by the first vice ministers’ meeting.
“I Will Continue to Serve with Sincerity and Determination”
Following her reappointment, Eri said she was “once again reminded of the great responsibility entrusted to me” and expressed that she was “honored to continue working alongside” her colleagues. She emphasized that “diplomacy remains not only Japan’s global responsibility but also a cornerstone of national security,” and pledged to continue serving “with sincerity and determination under the leadership of Prime Minister Takaichi and Foreign Minister Motegi.”
Congratulations from the Uyghur Community
Eri’s reappointment was met with warm congratulations from Uyghur organizations and activists around the world. The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) congratulated her, describing Eri as “a proud Uyghur-Japanese leader and a strong voice for justice, human rights, and the Uyghur cause — both in Japan and globally,” adding that “her leadership is an inspiration to Uyghurs around the world.”
Senior Uyghur activist and founding president of the Ilham Tohti Initiative, Enver Can, also welcomed the appointment, stating that “as a shining Uyghur-Japanese leader, Arfiya Eri has been a strong voice for justice, human rights, and the Uyghur cause in international fora,” and that “all Uyghurs are proud of her.”
Who Is Arfiya Eri?
Arfiya Eri is a member of Japan’s House of Representatives (Diet) from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, representing Chiba Prefecture’s 5th district. At just 36 years old, the Uyghur-born lawmaker is the youngest woman in Japan’s parliament.
In 2023, TIME magazine named Eri one of the “100 Next” — the 100 most influential emerging global leaders. Before entering politics, she worked for the United Nations and the Bank of Japan, gaining a decade of experience in public policy.
Eri holds a Bachelor’s degree in Foreign Service and a Master’s degree in Eurasian, Russian, and East European Studies — with a focus on modern Uyghur studies — from Georgetown University’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service.
A native speaker of Uyghur, she is fluent in Japanese, English, Chinese, Uzbek, and Turkish, and has basic proficiency in Arabic.
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