Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda reshuffled his Cabinet on Friday, aiming to draw the opposition camp into talks over raising the consumption tax to restore Japan's fiscal health.
Noda appointed former Democratic Party of Japan leader Katsuya Okada, who is known to support a sales tax hike, as deputy prime minister.
"We have to carry out . . . social security and tax reforms. We can't run from the issue, and nor can we postpone it any longer. . . . This reshuffle has produced the best and strongest lineup to steadily implement (the sales tax increase)," Noda said at a news conference Friday evening.