Atsuko Muraki, recently acquitted of fraud, started work Monday in her new role as director general for policy planning at the Cabinet Office.
"My new job covers a very wide area of expertise, so I intend to study hard," the 54-year-old senior official told reporters on her way to the Cabinet Office.
She took up the post after being presented with a letter of appointment by Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku.
Muraki will be in charge of devising a new system to integrate the functions of kindergartens and day care centers, and will also work on matters concerning support facilities for the disabled, suicide prevention and problems facing crime victims.
She will address the policy issues as a coordinator among relevant ministries and agencies.
Muraki was arrested over a postal abuse case in June 2009 while heading the Equal Employment, Children and Families Bureau of the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry. She returned to work at the ministry last week following her acquittal after 15 months of leave.
