Lineup of Abe's New Cabinet Announced

Tokyo, Aug. 3 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday finalized the lineup of his new cabinet to be launched later in the day, picking many veteran former cabinet ministers to bolster his administration that faces plunging public support. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga announced the roster of Abe's reshuffled cabinet at a press conference. Abe retained Taro Aso, 76, as deputy prime minister and finance minister, and Suga, 68, as chief cabinet secretary in order to maintain the foundation of his administration. Meanwhile, former administrative reform minister Taro Kono, 54, was appointed as foreign minister and former Liberal Democratic Party General Council chair Seiko Noda, 56, who has distanced herself from Abe, as internal affairs and communications minister. The appointments apparently reflected Abe's aim to achieve party unity in order to boost public support for his administration. Ahead of the announcement, Abe noted the need for humble reflections on part of his past remarks and attitudes, at a special meeting of the LDP General Council where the party's new leadership team was launched. He apparently had in mind public criticism over scandals, including alleged favoritism for a school operator headed by a friend of his. "By achieving results with a fresh mind, I'll win public confidence," Abe also told the special meeting. "That's how I'll fulfill my responsibility." In the cabinet reshuffle, Itsunori Onodera, 57, acting chairman of the LDP Policy Research Council, was appointed to come back as defense minister. He is expected to work on rebuilding the Defense Ministry, shaken by a cover-up of Ground Self-Defense Force reports on peacekeeping operations in South Sudan. Former Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, 56, was appointed as education, culture, sports, science and technology minister at a time when the education ministry was involved in the favoritism scandal. Toshimitsu Motegi, 61, former chairman of the LDP policy panel, was named economic revitalization minister, while Katsunobu Kato, 61, minister in charge of promoting dynamic engagement of all citizens, was appointed to switch to health, labor and welfare minister. Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Hiroshige Seko, 54, postdisaster reconstruction minister Masayoshi Yoshino, 68, and Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Keiichi Ishii, 59, were kept in the same posts. Former Justice Minister Yoko Kamikawa, 64, was chosen to return to the post, while former Environment Minister Shunichi Suzuki, 64, was named minister in charge of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. Six lawmakers were given cabinet posts for the first time, including State Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ken Saito, 58, who was appointed agriculture minister. House of Councillors lawmaker Masaharu Nakagawa, 70, was named as environment minister, and LDP Diet Affairs Committee Acting Chairman Hachiro Okonogi, 52, as chairman of the National Public Safety Commission. Former state land minister Tetsuma Esaki, 73, was appointed as minister for issues in Okinawa Prefecture and the disputed Russian-held islands off Hokkaido, called the Northern Territories, Masaji Matsuyama, 58, the LDP's Diet affairs chief in the Upper House as minister for promoting dynamic engagement of all citizens, and former state land minister Hiroshi Kajiyama, 61, as regional revitalization minister. END