Japanese prime minister plans cabinet reshuffle on Sept. 17 and extra Diet session in October

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is preparing a cabinet reshuffle slated for Sept. 17, with an extraordinary session of the Diet planned for Oct. 5, according to government insiders. The schedule assumes the cabinet will pass a tax reform bill next Tuesday that reduces the consumption tax on food and beverages from 8% to 1% for two years beginning next April. On Sept. 16, Takaichi is also expected to confirm a new executive team for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

Sources say she will retain Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama. Within the LDP, vice-president Taro Aso, secretary-general Shunichi Suzuki and policy chief Takayuki Kobayashi are also likely to keep their posts.