Obuchi reshuffles cabinet to launch new coalition

Japan Policy & Politics,  Oct 11, 1999  

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TOKYO, Oct. 5 Kyodo

Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi on Tuesday launched a tripartite coalition with the Liberal Party (LP) and the New Komeito that is expected to give his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) a firm grip on the parliament.

The cabinet reshuffle sealed the three-party alliance, which gives the ruling bloc control over 70% of the 500-member House of Representatives, the lower house of parliament, and a majority in the 252-member House of Councillors, the upper house.

Obuchi retained Finance Minister Kiichi Miyazawa, 79, and Economic Planning Agency head Taichi Sakaiya, 64, underscoring his determination to put the economy back on a recovery track.

The appointment of Miyazawa, a former prime minister, and Sakaiya, a best-selling author, was the main selling point for Obuchi's cabinet when it was first launched in July 1998.

Miyazawa said at a news conference that further fiscal stimulus measures are needed to bring the economy back on track.

"Although there is a limit to our finances and we cannot continue forever, we can not loosen our reigns for now," he said.

The premier also appointed Yohei Kono, 62, as foreign minister, the second time he has held the post. Kono, a former LDP president, will be entrusted with preparations for next year's Group of Eight summit in Okinawa.

"I will do my utmost for the success of the summit," Kono said at a separate news conference.

The new cabinet line-up, announced by new Chief Cabinet Secretary Mikio Aoki, 65, a close aide to Obuchi, included one member each from the LP and the New Komeito.

Toshihiro Nikai, 60, of the Liberal Party was appointed transport minister. The New Komeito's Kunihiro Tsuzuki, a 69-year-old former vice governor of Tokyo, was made head of the Management and Coordination Agency.

Former LDP General Council head Takashi Fukaya, 64, became international trade and industry minister, and former Economic Planning Agency head and economic policy expert Michio Ochi, 70, now heads the Financial Reconstruction Commission.

Other ministers are former Defense Agency chief Tokuichiro Tamazawa, 61, who was appointed agriculture, forestry and fisheries minister, and Masaaki Nakayama, 67, a former posts and telecommunications minister who became construction minister.

Former Education Minister Kosuke Hori, 65, took the post of home affairs minister, and former Health and Welfare Minister Yuya Niwa, 55, got a second stint in the same post.

The justice portfolio went to former Defense Agency chief Hideo Usui, 60, while former Construction Minister Tsutomu Kawara, 62, became defense agency chief.

Among first-time cabinet members is Hirofumi Nakasone, 53, son of former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, who took the education portfolio.

Takamori Makino, 73, was given the post of labor minister, while Eita Yashiro, 62, became posts and telecommunications minister, the officials said.

Kayoko Shimizu, a 63-year-old House of Councillors member who became new Environment Agency chief, is the only woman in the cabinet.

The ministers were formally sworn in at an attestation ceremony at the Imperial Palace. They later received letters of appointment from Obuchi at the premier's official residence.

It is Obuchi's second cabinet reshuffle. The government he formed in January kicked off an LDP-LP coalition by bringing an LP member into the cabinet.

The New Komeito, the second largest opposition party, decided to join the ruling camp in late July.

Obuchi had initially planned to launch the new coalition last Friday but postponed the launch to cope with a nuclear accident Thursday. The radiation leak at a uranium processing plant at Tokaimura, Ibaraki Prefecture, was Japan's worst nuclear energy disaster ever.

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