Japan's new cabinet announced

The Associated Press ,  Tokyo   |  Fri, 08/01/2008 9:33 PM  |  World

Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda picked a new Cabinet Friday that was a mix of old-guard legislators and several reappointments to restore confidence in his leadership amid flagging public popularity.

In an unusual move, he appointed two women, former telecommunications minister Seiko Noda, relatively popular as a consumers' advocate, and Kyoko Nakayama, a key figure in dealing with the emotional issue of Japanese kidnapped by North Korea decades ago.

The Cabinet reshuffle has been widely viewed as an attempt by the 72-year-old Fukuda to regain public support following scandals over missing pension records and alleged bribery in his bureaucracy.

Fukuda said his Cabinet would deliver "peace of mind" to the people by tackling reforms and getting things done.

"The mission of this Cabinet is to implement concrete policies," he said at a news conference. "We must cope with rising energy costs, a declining birth rate and an aging society."

The opposition has been pressing Fukuda to call elections amid voter outrage about emerging uncertainty over Japan's pension and health care systems.

Opposition legislator Mizuho Fukushima sharply criticized the new Cabinet as inadequate. "We can't expect very much from this Cabinet," she told nationally televised NHK TV news.

But Fukuda, who became premier in September last year, said he needs to stay on to create change, and said he would not dissolve parliament and call elections.

Japan, the world's second-largest economy, has eked out moderate growth in recent years but has been battered by rising oil prices and other economic uncertainty, including a U.S. slowdown that is likely to crimp exports.

Political analyst Eiken Itagaki said Fukuda was trying to play it safe. "The Cabinet looks like more of the same. But he wanted to strengthen his position in his party to stay on," he told The
Associated Press in a telephone interview.

Indeed, many of the faces chosen were the same, including Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura, Health Minister Yoichi Masuzoe and Nobutaka Machimura, the chief government spokesman, who announced the Cabinet lineup.

"We are not here for the sake of raising our support rating," Machimura told reporters. "We are facing a number of pressing issues, such as price hikes, soaring oil prices and risks of an economic slowdown."

Also added to the Cabinet were ruling party heavyweights Bunmei Ibuki, 70, appointed finance minister, Kaoru Yosano, 69, tipped as economic and fiscal policy minister, and Seiichi Ota, 62, who became agriculture minister.

Earlier in the day, Fukuda also picked old-guard legislators for top positions in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, including former Foreign Minister Taro Aso as secretary-general.

Aso, 67, acknowledged the ruling party faced a serious crisis in winning over a disenchanted public. "Just because we have a new structure, that doesn't mean all is well," Aso said. He promised to push forward an economic stimulus and other programs.

Fukuda's overall public approval rating has fallen to about 20 percent in recent months, as top defense officials have been arrested on suspicion of bribery and tax evasion and bureaucrats
have been accused of accepting gifts.

Nakayama has been an advocate of Japanese who believe their family members have been kidnapped by North Korean spies.

The families have been pressuring the government for years to take a tough stand against Pyongyang and win the victims back. North Korean leader Kim Jong Il admitted to the kidnappings and returned five Japanese in 2002.

Noda, appointed Friday as minister in charge of consumer affairs, has a reputation for advocating women's issues.

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