Shinzo Abe reshuffles Cabinet, taps Kono as top envoy

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‍Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reshuffled his Cabinet and the leadership of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on Thursday and tapped Taro Kono, former minister for administrative reform, as foreign minister.

Veteran LDP lawmaker Itsunori Onodera returned for a second stint as Defense Minister, having held the post for almost two years from December 2012.

Current Foreign and Defense Minister Fumio Kishida was appointed chairman of the LDP’s Policy Research Council.

Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera / AFP Photo

He took on responsibility for the defense portfolio temporarily after Tomomi Inada’s resigned from the post Friday, due to her involvement in a series of scandals.

Abe retained key ministers, including Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Taro Aso, and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, as well as LDP Secretary-General Toshihiro Nikai.

Abe's Cabinet consists of 13 members with current or previous ministerial experience, and just six newcomers.

The new Cabinet will be officially launched after an attestation ceremony at the Imperial Palace.

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Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera