Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda on Monday appointed former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano to replace trade minister Yoshio Hachiro, who stepped down after only eight days in the post over his controversial remarks on the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
Edano, a lawyer known for his debating skills, served as the top spokesman for the Cabinet led by Prime Minister Naoto Kan during the reactor meltdown crisis that started March 11.
By appointing Edano, who was in the thick of dealing with the nuclear crisis from the start, Noda is apparently attempting to minimize the political damage.