Japan's incoming ruling party, the center-left Democratic Party of Japan, has been considering its picks for key Cabinet posts as it prepares to form a new government Sept. 16.

DPJ chief Yukio Hatoyama, who is expected to take over as prime minister, told reporters Sept. 3 that he will appoint DPJ acting President Ichiro Ozawa as secretary general, the No. 2 post in the party.

Hatoyama also said Sept. 4 that he plans to appoint deputy chief Naoto Kan as state strategy minister and deputy prime minister, and Secretay General Katsuya Okada as foreign minister.

In addition, DPJ sources said that Hatoyama will tap top aide Hirofumi Hirana as his imcoming government's chief Cabinet secretary.

The sources also said that Hatoyama will ask the leaders of the DPJ's two likely partners, the Social Democratic Party and Kokumin Shinto (People's New Party) to join the Cabinet, a move intended to help the envisioned coalition function more smoothly.