Making its debut Monday at a Diet debate, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's new Cabinet faced tough questions on postal privatization and Japan's future role in rebuilding Iraq.
But Koizumi refused to give ground -- or any details.
During the session, the Cabinet refused to discuss how it will reform the postal savings and postal insurance premiums held by the government -- worth some 350 trillion yen, or roughly 25 percent of the estimated total financial assets of Japanese individuals.