Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Cabinet on Friday marked the 500th day since its inception in December 2012, extending its record as the longest-serving lineup in the postwar era.
The previous record was set by a Cabinet led by Prime Minister Eisaku Sato more than four decades ago, which went 425 days without replacing any of its members.
Over the years, numerous prime ministers have been forced to sack ministers caught up in one scandal or another. Others reshuffled their Cabinets to maintain power within their party, distributing portfolios to appease lawmakers desperate for some cache to help their re-election chances.