TOKYO: Japan`s Prime Minister Naoto Kan of the centre-left Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) on Friday announced a sweeping reshuffle of his cabinet. Here is the new ministerial line-up:

Post Name

Finance Yoshihiko Noda

Foreign Affairs Seiji Maehara (new)

Economy, Trade and Industry Akihiro Ohata (new)

Defence Toshimi Kitazawa

Environment Ryu Matsumoto (new)

Justice, North Korean abduction issue Minoru Yanagida (new)

Internal Affairs and Communication Yoshihiro Katayama (new)

Health, Labour and Welfare Ritsuo Hosokawa (new)

Education, Culture, Sports and Science Yoshiaki Takagi (new)

Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Michihiko Kano (new)

Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Sumio Mabuchi (new)

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku

State Minister in charge of:

Economic and fiscal policy, space programme Banri Kaieda (new)

National Strategy Koichiro Genba (new)

Postal Reform, Financial Affairs Shozaburo Jimi

Administrative Reform Renho

Public Security, Consumer Affairs, Population Tomiko Okazaki (new)

NOTES: All except two of the cabinet are DPJ members. Postal Reform Minister Shozaburo Jimi is a member of the People`s New Party, the junior coalition partner. Internal Affairs Minister Yoshihiro Katayama holds no parliamentary seat. He is a politics professor and former Tottori prefecture governor.

-- Administrative Reform Minister Renho uses only one name.

BDST: 1331 HRS, September 17, 2010