The Cabinet said Tuesday it will promote Gen. Hajime Massaki, chief of staff of the Ground Self-Defense Force, to the post of chairman of the Joint Staff Council of the Self-Defense Forces, as of Monday.

Massaki will succeed the retiring chairman of the Joint Staff Council, Maritime Self-Defense Force Adm. Toru Ishikawa. The GSDF's Western Army commanding general, Tsutomu Mori, 57, will fill Massaki's post.

Massaki, 60, joined the GSDF in 1968 after graduating from the National Defense Academy. He has served in his current post since December 2002.

Mori also graduated from the academy and joined the GSDF in 1970.