TOKYO, Sept. 17 (Xinhuanet) -- Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is likely to conduct a major cabinet reshuffle if he wins reelection as leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on Saturday.

　　According to Kyodo News, Koizumi may retain key members of the cabinet and party leadership including Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda and LDP Secretary General Taku Yamasaki.

　　But he may replace Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi and education minister Atsuko Toyama after a request from party colleagues for the number of lawmakers in the cabinet to be increased, Kyodo said.

　　Both Kawaguchi and Toyama are former career-track bureaucrats, not lawmakers.

　　Heizo Takenaka, who concurrently serves as financial services minister and economic and fiscal policy minister, is the other cabinet member who is not a lawmaker.

　　Some LDP heavyweights have urged Koizumi to sack Takenaka, saying it is inappropriate for a person who was not elected by thepeople to lead the state's key financial and economic measures, Kyodo said.

　　Koizumi may move Takenaka from the post of financial services minister, the country's top financial regulator, but still retain him in the cabinet, it said.

　　Koizumi is likely to be reelected as LDP leader on Saturday by defeating three challengers due to his continuing popularity, according to surveys of local media in the recent weeks.

　　The premier plans to hold a meeting Sunday with the leaders of the LDP's two coalition partners to consult them about a new cabinet lineup. Enditem