Koizumi replaced Yoriko Kawaguchi as foreign minister with former Education Minister Nobutaka Machimura, but retained his financial team: Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki, Trade Minister Shoichi Nakagawa and Economy Minister Heizo Takenaka.

In one of the most closely watched changes, Koizumi appointed Takenaka to also be minister responsible for privatizing the postal service, a centerpiece of the government's reform platform.

Among other major Cabinet changes, Yoshinori Ono replaced Shigeru Ishiba at the Defense Agency; Chieko Noono took over at the Justice Ministry; Hidehisa Otsuji moved into the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry; and Nariaki Nakayama was given his first Cabinet post at the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry.

Prior to changing his Cabinet, Koizumi chose a new Liberal-Democratic Party leadership, picking former Farm Minister Tsutomu Takebe as the new secretary-general. Takebe replaced Shinzo Abe, who resigned to take responsibility for the poor showing in July's Upper House election.

The Japan Times Weekly: Oct. 2, 2004
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