TOKYO, March 9 (Xinhua) -- Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said Wednesday that State Foreign Secretary Takeaki Matsumoto will take the office of foreign minister following Seiji Maehara's resignation Sunday over an illegal donation.
The attestation ceremony for the new foreign minister will take place at 6 p.m. at the Imperial Palace, Edano said at a press conference.
According to local media reports, Matsumoto accepted Kan's offer of the post late Tuesday.
A former banker and a descendant of Japan's first Prime Minister Hirofumi Ito, the 51-year-old politician is serving his fourth term as a lower house lawmaker.
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