Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori unveiled his new Cabinet on Tuesday evening, retaining six key ministers and making a surprise decision to appoint former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto ahead of a major administrative realignment that will take place on Jan. 6.

The new Cabinet, coming just weeks after Mori's administration survived an opposition-sponsored no-confidence motion on Nov. 21, may end up being short-lived, however, under the deeply unpopular prime minister.

The new lineup reflects the delicate balance of power usually struck between the Liberal Democratic Party's clashing factions.