Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet, keeps key ministers, coalition ally gets post

TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reshuffled her Cabinet on Thursday, retaining key members while bringing in a new face from her ruling Liberal Democratic Party's coalition partner, in an apparent effort to ensure political stability and lay the groundwork for her reelection bid.

The lineup appears to reflect Takaichi's wish to give the key portfolios of finance, diplomacy and defense to trusted hands ahead of an extraordinary parliamentary session where a bill to implement a consumption tax cut is expected to be deliberated, and as the government plans to update key security-related documents.