In an effort to assert his leadership and bolster his sagging political fortunes, Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori elected for a mix of the old and new in Tuesday's Cabinet reshuffle.
But Mori himself may be the most unpopular name in the new Cabinet lineup, according to recent opinion polls.
Mori — whose Liberal Democratic Party was unable to secure a majority in the Lower House elections — was able to maintain power thanks to his coalition allies. He now appears to have chosen his own Cabinet.