Prime Minister Shinzo Abe kept close allies in key Cabinet posts in a reshuffle Wednesday that attempts to maintain stability in economic management and diplomacy as he leads the ruling coalition into an Upper House election next summer.

Abe retained nine Cabinet members, including Finance Minister Taro Aso, Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and Akira Amari, minister of economic and fiscal policy, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga announced Wednesday. Abe also appointed 10 new Cabinet members.

Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato was named to a newly created ministerial post that Abe hopes will create "a society in which all 100 million people can play an active role." In this job, Kato will coordinate policies tackling issues such as the falling birthrate and elderly care.