Related: List of Japan's new cabinet

    TOKYO, Sept. 27 (Xinhuanet) -- Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Monday reshuffled his cabinet for a third time, removing most of ministers while keeping the pivotal portfolios of economy, trade as well as finance unchanged in an apparent gesture to maintain a stable backup for his ambitious reforms.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi leads his new cabinet members to meet the press in Tokyo, Sept. 27.(Xinhua/AFP Photo)

    Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Shoichi Nakagawa retained their posts.

    Heizo Takenaka, a heavyweight figure in Koizumi's sweeping reforms, was named to serve as postal reform minister while keeping the office as economic and fiscal policy minister.

    The premier had said he would not pick cabinet ministers based on party faction balance, but on whether they will support his reform policies centered on the privatization of Japan's postal services. The appointment of determined reformer Takenaka as postal reform minister demonstrated Koizumi's resolution to fulfill the task.

    Koizumi told a press conference that his new cabinet is comprised of members who understand and support the privatization."The phase has come to realize the reform policies that has been followed so far," He said, describing the fresh cabinet as a "cabinet for the fulfillment of the privatization of the postal services."

    Koizumi also said he has no intention to dissolve the lower house for a general election, but would be concentrated on reform drives.

    "The privatization of the nation's postal services stands as the centerpiece of Koizumi's structural reforms. It is my job to materialize his thoughts," Takenaka said at an earlier press conference after the announcement of the appointments.

    The key architect of the economic revamp viewed Japan is on theway of recovery, but more should be done to make it sustainable.

    Japan's former cabinet adopted the privatization plan early this month despite oppositions from vested interest groups within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

    The world-second largest economy is witnessing the most exuberant economic performance although there are concerns in a verity of aspects, such as the sluggish domestic demands. Apart from the privatization of postal services, the reform on pension system also met strong resistance.

    As there will be no parliament or LDP leadership elections before the end of Koizumi's tenure in 2006, the premier is emboldened to implement his reforms.

    In other notable positions, Koizumi put Nobutaka Machimura, a former education minister, as foreign minister, replacing Yoriko Kawaguchi, who has been facing opposition voices for not being a lawmaker.

    Koizumi also named 68-year-old Yoshinori Ono to take over from Shigeru Ishiba, 47, as director general of the Defense Agency. Ono would be dealing with Japan's aspiration to expand the role of its Self-Defense Forces.

    Other officials who retained their ministerial posts include Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda, Minister for Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications Taro Aso and Environment Minister Yoriko Koike.

    Tatsuya Ito, 43, succeeded Takenaka as financial services minister.

    Chieko Nono was named as justice minister, and Nariaki Nakayama,as minister of education, culture, sports, science and technology.

    Minister of land, infrastructure and transport went to Kazuo Kitagawa, the policy chief of LDP's coalition partner, the New Komeito party.

    One-time farm minister Yoshinobu Shimamura returned as farm minister once more, Hidehisa Otsuji, an LDP member from the House of Councilors, was named as health, labor and welfare minister and Yoshitaka Murata as chairman of the National Public Safety Commission.

    Seiichiro Murakami was appointed as minister in charge of administrative reform, and Yasufumi Tanahashi, as information technology minister.

    Koizumi also restructured the LDP leadership early the day, putting former farm minister Tsutomu Takebe as the key secretary general. Acting Secretary General Fumio Kyuma was named as chairman of the decision-making General Council, and former trade and industry minister Kaoru Yosano became chairman of the Policy Research Council.

    Katsuya Okada, president of the largest opposition Democratic Party of Japan told Japanese reporters, "It is a cabinet that the Japanese people can not count on."

    Kazuo Ishita, chairman of the Executive Committee of the Japanese Communist Party commented that the reshuffle can not change the cabinet's characteristic of hiking the consumption tax and revising the pacifist constitution.

    Mizuho Fukushima, head of the Social Democratic Party, said thenew cabinet will not bring surprise. Enditem