Not known for his diplomatic skills, it's unclear how Prime Minister Naoto Kan will deal with pressing international issues, even with a major Cabinet reshuffle Friday.
One of the most urgent policy tasks facing the prime minister is shoring up shaky Japan-U.S. relations, which, if unsuccessful, could cost him his job, critics say.
Japan-U.S. relations have hit a snag over the controversial relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, to the Henoko district in Nago in the northern part of the island.