Abe to Replace Defense Minister

Tokyo, Dec. 23 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe plans to replace his defense minister when he forms a new cabinet Wednesday, informed sources said Tuesday. The plan comes as Defense Minister Akinori Eto has offered to resign, the sources said. His possible successors include Gen Nakatani, former director-general of the Defense Agency, the Defense Ministry's predecessor, the sources said. Abe plans to keep all other cabinet ministers in their posts, the sources said. Eto has been facing criticism from opposition parties after his political fund management body corrected records of 3.5 million yen in spending to personnel expenses for his staff from a donation to Eto as previously stated. Eto is believed to have cited the matter as a reason for his offer to step down. END