Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto conferred with the Liberal Democratic Party's most influential men late Sept. 10 to try to forge the framework for his third Cabinet.
The new Cabinet will be launched this evening, tasked with carrying through his six major reforms. As with the current Cabinet, formed Nov. 7, Hashimoto's new decision-making body will be an all-LDP affair, with the two allies -- the Social Democratic Party and New Party Sakigake -- opting to remain outside.
But this time, Hashimoto is reshuffling his Cabinet with his party full of confidence and strength, having regained a simple majority in the powerful House of Representatives for the first time in four years. Hashimoto is considering reappointing Defense Agency chief Fumio Kyuma and Kabun Muto, chief of the Management and Coordination Agency as well as acting chairman of a governmental reform panel, in the reshuffle expected Sept. 11, LDP sources said.