LOC10:50
07:50 GMT
TOKYO, Aug 10 (KUNA)-- Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday reshuffled his Cabinet, replacing 14 for the 19-member Cabinet, including defense and industry ministers, a top government spokesman announced.
But Kishida, 65, retained five ministers, including Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told a press conference. Former Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada returned to the post which he held between 2008 and 2009.
The shakeups follow the assassination of former prime minister Abe Shinzo during a stump speech for the Upper House in July. The Kishida's Cabinet has recently been under fire, as the fatal incident sparked public concern over relationship between the controversial Unification Church and ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) lawmakers.
Ahead of the official announcement, he also changed the LDP executive lineup. The new cabinet members will later go to the Imperial Palace for an attestation ceremony. (end)
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