Bureaucrats in their 20s and 30s were apprehensive but upbeat Tuesday when work started in earnest following the biggest administrative shakeup since the end of World War II.
The governmental realignment reduced the number of ministries and agencies from 23 to 13, with Tuesday constituting the first working day for government officials under the new system following Monday's national holiday.
Masataka Kiyotake, 30, an official at the Environment Ministry, which was upgraded from its former status as an agency, said he is glad the government has clarified the position of environmental policymakers.