Abe taps faction veterans for Cabinet

Embattled Prime Minister Shinzo Abe picked veteran lawmakers as key ministers in a Cabinet shakeup Monday as he attempted to regroup his government following last month's humiliating electoral defeat.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe presents his new Cabinet at the Prime Minister's Official Residence on Monday evening after attending an attestation ceremony at the Imperial Palace. SATOKO KAWASAKI PHOTO

Instead of surprise appointments, Abe named former Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura to again assume that portfolio, and tapped former Defense Agency chief Fukushiro Nukaga, who is versed in economic issues, to be finance minister.

Former education minister Kaoru Yosano was appointed chief Cabinet secretary, the top government spokesman and the prime minister's right-hand man in the Cabinet.

Veteran lawmaker Masahiko Komura was named defense minister. Komura, who supports a hard line against North Korea, served as foreign minister in the 1990s and as justice minister in 2002.

Komura replaces Yuriko Koike, Japan's first female defense chief. Koike, who recently announced she did not seek to stay in the post, only took up the position after her predecessor, Fumio Kyuma, resigned over remarks suggesting the U.S. atomic bombings were unavoidable.

Meanwhile, Abe reduced the number of special advisers from five in his initial Cabinet to just two — Kyoko Nakayama in charge of the North Korean abductions issue and Eriko Yamatani to handle education reforms.

The special advisers had been appointed to strengthen Abe's policymaking initiative and were key features of his first Cabinet.

In announcing the new lineup at a news conference, Yosano said he believes Abe has selected Cabinet members "based on their abilities."

But the lineup is dominated by big names representing LDP factions, and criticism may arise that Abe has failed to make a fresh start and instead given in to a faction-based internal power game.

Although many Cabinet members are veterans versed in policy matters, Abe picked Liberal Democratic Party Upper House member Yoichi Masuzoe, a former political commentator, to the post of health, labor and welfare minister.

Masuzoe's appointment is believed aimed at showing the public the government's resolve to deal with the pension record-keeping debacle. Masuzoe has been critical of the government's handling of the problem and even criticized Abe over the matter.

Masuzoe is replacing Hakuo Yanagisawa, who angered the public by calling women "child-bearing machines."

Apparently in another attempt to boast a reformist image, Abe appointed former Iwate Gov. Hiroya Masuda, known as a reformist local leader, to be internal affairs minister.

"Inappropriate remarks made by ministers, money-related scandals and the (mishandling of) pension records have triggered public distrust toward politics," Abe said in the evening.

"I would like to do everything in my power to win back the public's trust in politics and the government with the new Cabinet members."

Some ministers retained their posts.

Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Akira Amari and Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Minister Bunmei Ibuki were retained.

Tetsuzo Fuyushiba, the only Cabinet member from New Komeito, will continue as land, infrastructure and transport minister.

In the afternoon, Abe's departing ministers met and submitted their resignations. Abe later held talks with New Komeito leader Akihiro Ota.

The Cabinet was officially launched in the evening after an attestation ceremony at the Imperial Palace.

Abe, whose approval ratings are in the low 20s, was under pressure to appoint capable, scandal-free ministers.

The pension record fiasco and money scandals and gaffes involving Cabinet ministers are thought to have been factors behind the LDP's defeat in the July Upper House election, which reduced the party and New Komeito to a minority in the chamber.

Abe's government has been riddled with scandals and missteps since he took office last September, replacing the popular Junichiro Koizumi. Three of Abe's ministers have been forced to resign, and one committed suicide amid a money scandal.

Abe — at 52 the youngest postwar prime minister — has resisted calls for his resignation from the opposition and even from within his own party, vowing to push through reforms.

Newly appointed Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura expressed confidence Monday that the Democratic Party of Japan will be persuaded to extend the antiterrorism law beyond its Nov. 1 expiration so Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels can continue their Indian Ocean support duty.

Machimura also promised to continue Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's so-called assertive diplomacy in pushing the country's interests in the international community.