The ongoing process of realigning central government ministries and agencies remains trapped in a bureaucratic vise, according to former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, who is currently state minister in charge of streamlining the nation's bureaucracy.

For one, it lacks flexibility, he said in an interview Thursday.

Having taken the initiative to draw up the comprehensive realignment plan during his tenure as prime minister three years ago, Hashimoto said he never thought the number of personnel at each section of the current 22 ministries would remain the same after they are regrouped into 12 ministries on Jan. 6. However, current law stipulates that it be so.

"This is something I never thought of at the time," said Hashimoto, who was appointed by Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori to serve in the newly-created position in last week's Cabinet reshuffle.

While some ministries could stand to be trimmed, Hashimoto specifically cited the regional bureaus of the Foreign Ministry as examples of government offices that should be reinforced with more staff than at present.

The former prime minister noted, however, that the government's ongoing efforts to reshape itself are "not something it should be ashamed of," praising efforts made toward that end by his successors, such as the late Keizo Obuchi. Hashimoto's current post also makes him responsible for issues regarding the Japan-claimed but Russian-held islands off Hokkaido, as well as the U.S. military installations in Okinawa Prefecture. He is also seen by some observers as Japan's "shadow foreign minister."

Hashimoto said recent Japanese media reports suggesting that Tokyo would seek the return of only two of the four disputed islands -- Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan and the Habomai islets -- "were really disappointing."

"I am gravely worried that it might have sent a bad signal to Russia," he said.

Hashimoto fears Moscow may have interpreted the reports to mean that Japan is ready to give up two other islands after recovering Shikotan and Habomai -- the two islands whose return is stipulated under the 1956 Japan-Soviet Union Joint Declaration.

"We cannot accept the idea that (the territorial dispute) will be resolved should just two islands be returned," he said. Tokyo's position is that all four islands must be returned for the row to be declared resolved.

As for the planned relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in central Okinawa, Hashimoto said he has already passed on to U.S. Ambassador to Japan Thomas Foley Okinawa Gov. Keiichi Inamine's demand that Tokyo and Washington impose a 15-year time limit on the U.S. military's use of the planned facility.

"There are various views (with regard to the time limit), but we must continue making diplomatic efforts," he said.