With a minor but crucial reshuffle Friday, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda prepared to tackle his most important and difficult task — raising taxes.
Noda has high hopes for Katsuya Okada as deputy prime minister, because he is expected to have what it takes to persuade the opposition camp to join discussions on the political taboo, which is being broached as health care costs continue to swell in line with the nation's rapidly graying population.
Critics hailed Okada's appointment as a smart move. The Diet veteran is a policy-oriented lawmaker who is not afraid to make use of his connections with the opposition camp.