Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori launched his new Cabinet on Dec. 5, reshuffling his team to prepare for the reorganization of government ministries and agencies in January.
Although Mori said he created a powerful team that can implement the socioeconomic reforms necessary to revive the nation in the 21st century, media surveys show that popular support remains sluggish, and there is a persistent sentiment within the Liberal Democratic Party that it will be headed for heavy losses in next summer's Upper House election as long as Mori is at the helm.
For fiscal 2000 through March, the government is expected to attain its goal of 1.5 percent annual GDP growth. Still, recent stock market trends indicate investors are still uncertain about the future of the economy.