Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe chose experienced conservatives as his new foreign and defense ministers Monday, news reports said, as the government attempted to regroup following a humiliating electoral defeat. The Prime Minister asked Nobutaka Machimura, 62, to return as foreign minister, a post he held under Abe's predecessor, national broadcaster NHK and Kyodo News agency reported. Abe also chose Masahiko Komura, 65, as defense minister, the reports said. NHK and Kyodo also reported that Fukushiro Nukaga, 63, a former defense minister, was named to lead the Finance Ministry. He would replace Koji Omi. NHK also reported that Trade Minister Akira Amari would remain in the new Cabinet. The new lineup was to be officially announced later Monday. Earlier Monday, Abe moved his foreign minister, Taro Aso, to secretary-general of the Liberal Democratic Party, the No. 2 post after Abe. He also filled two other top LDP posts in a bid to rejuvenate the troubled ruling party. «The important task for the LDP is to regain the public trust and to address the people's concerns about the future,» Aso told reporters, pledging more communication between the ruling and resurgent opposition parties.
