There is still much to be done regarding heat prevention, cyberterrorism and budget reduction for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Seiko Hashimoto told a news conference Thursday, one day after she was appointed minister for the games in a major Cabinet reshuffle.

With the games less than a year away, questions are being raised about how she plans to deal with games-related issues, such as connecting the Olympics with the recovery of the Tohoku region from the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, mitigating the risks of extreme summer heat and how to transform Tokyo into a safer, more accessible and inclusive city before the opening ceremony next July.

"The needs of athletes ... is most important," Hashimoto said. "To create and maintain an environment where the athletes can perform their very best, we need to take into account multiple factors and listen to the voices of athletes, staff, volunteers and everyone to address the problem."