By Ni Hongmei

    TOKYO, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday reshuffled his 11-month old Cabinet, replacing key ministerial posts including chief Cabinet secretary and ministers of defense, foreign affairs and finance with veteran politicians.

    Earlier in the day, as the ruling party president, Abe also named a whole new leadership of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).With the inauguration of the new Cabinet, a question stands out: Can the premier reverse his political fortune and regain public trust after minister scandals, pension record fiasco and a crushing defeat at July's upper house election?

Members of Japan's new cabinet pose for a group photo in Tokyo, Japan, August 27, 2007. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (C, front row) Monday reshuffled his 11-month old cabinet and inaugurated a new one, with most of the key ministerial posts replaced. (Xinhua/Sun Wei)
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    In Monday's shake-up, Nobutaka Machimura, 62, was appointed as foreign minister, a post he held under former premier Junichiro Koizumi. Masahiko Komura, 65, another former foreign minister, became defense minister.

    Meanwhile, Kaoru Yosano, a known policy expert, was chosen as new chief Cabinet secretary. He in the past held various key posts including education minister, trade minister and economic policy minister.

    Abe said at a press conference late Monday that with the new Cabinet members, he would endeavor to "win back once again the trust in politics and the administration that we've lost."

    The premier said he chose the appropriate individuals for the respective posts according to their capabilities, but also stressed that the new ministers must come clean with their political funds.

    Abe announced his intention to revamp the top layer of the government and his party shortly after the ruling coalition's embarrassing failure at July's election to retain majority in the House of Councillors. Despite sliding support rate and calling for him to resign even from his own party, the 52-year-old leader said he would remain at his post and continue the reforms and work towards the goal to "build a beautiful country."

    At the reshuffle, former defense agency chief Fukushiro Nukaga was named as the Cabinet's finance minister while former political commentator Yoichi Masuzoe will take the post as health and welfare minister.

    The post of justice minister went to 58-year-old Kunio Hatoyama, who formerly served as education and labor minister. Former prefectural governor Hiroya Masuda was chosen as internal affairs and communications minister.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attends the inauguration ceremony of his new cabinet at his office in Tokyo, Japan, August 27, 2007. Abe Monday reshuffled his 11-month old cabinet and inaugurated a new one, with most of the key ministerial posts replaced. (Xinhua/Sun Wei)